LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Fuji icon Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, widely known as KWAM1, has taken his royal ambition into the public spotlight, accusing Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun of allowing a process he claims is designed to shut him out of the race for the Awujale of Ijebu land.
In a strongly worded petition dated January 8, 2026, the legendary musician and Olori Omooba of Ijebu land alleged that the Fusengbuwa ruling house, next in line to produce the Awujale, is violating existing chieftaincy laws to deny him a fair chance at the revered throne.
The letter, written by his lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, was addressed directly to the governor, urging him to ensure fairness for KWAM1, who is among over 60 aspirants reportedly contesting the vacant Awujale stool.
However, leaders of the Fusengbuwa ruling house have repeatedly insisted that the music star is not a recognized member of their family, a claim that automatically disqualifies him from the selection process.
Ayinde previously approached the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu Ode, seeking an interim injunction to halt the selection exercise involving the governor and six others. The court dismissed the application for lacking merit, after which the musician quietly withdrew the suit without explanation.
Despite that setback, Ayinde returned to the fight through his latest petition, raising concerns over fresh developments. According to the letter, the Ijebu Ode Local Government had, through its secretary Oke Adebanjo, approved the ruling house to commence the nomination process in a letter dated January 6, 2026.
However, Ayinde claimed that trouble began when the family’s Public Relations Officer, Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, issued a notice directing aspirants to collect nomination forms and submit to a screening exercise overseen by a committee chaired by Prince Alhaji Mitiu Adenuga. The directive fixed the nomination for January 12, 2026, while also stating that delegates for the process would be chosen at a family meeting on January 10.
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“It is a matter of deep concern to our client that all these directives, which contravene the Chieftaincy Declaration, 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,” the petition stated.
The letter further stressed that every qualified member of the ruling house has a right to participate fully in nominating candidates.
“A group of people in the ruling house cannot usurp these rights,” it read, adding that the delegate system proposed was “inconsistent with both the spirit and letter of the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021.”
Ayinde’s camp urged the governor to intervene swiftly, calling for “justice and compliance with due process” to safeguard the integrity of the selection and protect the musician’s rights.
In response, the Fusengbuwa ruling house dismissed the allegations outright. Vice Chairman Prof. Fassy Yusuf confirmed receipt of the letter but described it as “arrant nonsense.” He also questioned the practicality of Ayinde’s objections to screening.
“It is a misguided letter. Either Wahab Shittu is being misled, or Wasiu Ayinde is being misled. The letter was directed to the government, which will respond appropriately. The issue being raised about screening is illogical. We have over 20,000 members in the ruling house, how does he expect us to manage the crowd?”Yusuf said.
As the contest intensifies, the family agreed and scheduled its next nomination meeting for Monday, January 12, 2026.
The Awujale throne has remained vacant since July 2025, following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona at 91. The revered monarch ruled Ijebu land for 65 years, leaving behind a legacy that now fuels one of the most high-profile royal succession battles in recent Yoruba history, blending culture, celebrity and controversy in equal measure.
