The Ogun State Government has suspended the ongoing selection process of the new Awujale of Ijebuland.
The state government cited petitions, security reports, and the need to preserve public order and the integrity of the royal stool as the reasons for the suspension.
Wasiu Ayinde, the veteran Fuji musician, also known as KWAM 1, had earlier in January petitioned the Ogun state executive council to nullify the January 12, 2026 nomination exercise for the Awujale of Ijebuland stool.
KWAM 1’s petition followed the growing list of complaints received by the state from various stakeholders and security agencies.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ganiyu Hamzat, commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, said the decision to halt the process was taken proactively to maintain peace, order, and good government.
He referenced the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State, 2021, which empowers the executive council to set aside an appointment if it deems it necessary in the public interest.
Hamzat said the 65-year reign of Sikiru Adetona, immediate past Awujale, had significantly elevated its modern prestige, placing the next occupant and the selection process under intense national scrutiny.
The commissioner directed the chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area to immediately convey the suspension to the Awujale Kingmakers Council and the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
He advised the ruling house to await further directives from the state government before proceeding with any steps.
However, the statement did not provide a timeline for when the process might resume or the specific nature of the petitions and security reports that prompted the intervention.
