Popular Fuji musician and Olori Omooba of Ijebuland, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM1, has written to Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, alleging his exclusion from the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Ayinde alleged that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, next in line to produce the Awujale, has taken steps that contravene the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, with the intent of disenfranchising him and other interested members from the selection process.

The allegations were contained in a letter dated January 8, 2026, written by Ayinde’s counsel, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, and addressed to Governor Abiodun.

The selection process for the revered stool has reportedly attracted over 60 aspirants, with Ayinde among those who have declared interest.

However, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House has maintained that the musician is not a member of the family and is therefore ineligible to participate in the process.

Ayinde had earlier approached the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, seeking an interim injunction restraining the governor and six others from proceeding with the selection exercise. The court dismissed the application, describing it as lacking merit. The suit was subsequently withdrawn by the musician.

In the fresh letter to the governor, Ayinde stated that the Ijebu-Ode Local Government, through a letter dated January 6, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Mr. Oke Adebanjo, authorised the ruling house to commence the selection process.

He said he was surprised that while preparations were ongoing for a general family meeting, the Public Relations Officer of the ruling house, Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, issued a notice directing aspirants to obtain nomination forms and appear before a screening committee chaired by Prince Alhaji Mitiu Adenuga.

According to the letter, the nomination exercise was fixed for Monday, January 12, 2026, with an additional directive that the process would be conducted by delegates to be selected at a meeting held on January 10, 2026.

Part of the letter read:

“It is a matter of deep concern to our client that all these directives, which contravene the Chieftaincy Declaration, the Obas and Chiefs Law, and the letter from the Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, were included in the family’s letter dated January 6, 2026.

“It is clear that there are plans by the leadership of the ruling house to disenfranchise members desirous of participating in the nomination of candidates for the Awujale stool”.

“All members of the ruling house are entitled to attend the meeting to nominate candidates of their choice. A group of people cannot usurp these rights.

“The directive providing for screening and nomination by delegates is inconsistent with both the spirit and letter of the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021.

“In the interest of justice and due process, we urge timely intervention to protect our client’s rights and ensure the integrity of the process.”

Reacting, the Vice-Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, confirmed receipt of the letter but dismissed its content as “arrant nonsense.”

Speaking on Sunday, Yusuf said, “It is a misguided letter. Either Wahab Shittu is being misled, or Wasiu Ayinde is being misled. The letter was written to the government, which will respond appropriately.

“The issue of screening is illogical. We have over 20,000 members in the ruling house, how does he expect us to manage such a crowd?”

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has scheduled its nomination meeting for Monday, January 12, 2026, for aspirants seeking the vacant stool.

The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who passed away at the age of 91 after a historic 65-year reign.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Ogun State Government were unsuccessful, as the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the Governor, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, had not responded to enquiries as of the time of filing this report.