Popular Fuji musician Wasui Ayinde, also known as KWAM 1 De Ultimate, an aspirant of the vacant Awujale of Ijebuland stool, on Wednesday, January 14, petitioned the Ogun state government over unlawful exclusion from the nomination exercise.
The nomination process for the next Awujale took place on Monday at Bisrod Hall in Ijebu-Ode, following clearance from the Ogun state ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs to kick off the exercise.
The stool became vacant in July 2025 following the demise of the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, at the age of 91.
In a petition dated January 12 and addressed to the Ogun state executive council through the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, KWAM 1 accused leaders of the Fusengbuwa ruling house of conducting a flawed and exclusionary nomination process.
The Fuji star, through his lawyer, Wahab Shittu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), claimed he is a recognised and eligible member of the Fusengbuwa ruling house and an aspirant to the Awujale stool.
According to the petition, the ruling house was formally invited by the Ijebu-Ode local government to convene a statutory meeting on January 12 for the nomination of candidates, in line with Ogun state chieftaincy laws and Ijebu customary practice.
However, KWAM 1 claimed that when the meeting was held at a hotel in Ijebu-Ode, he and several other eligible members were prevented from gaining access to the venue.
“Heavily armed security personnel, including the Nigerian police and other security operatives, were reportedly stationed at the venue and were used to disenfranchise legitimate members,” the petition read.
“Entry to the meeting was restricted by the issuance of special entry cards, purportedly to delegates selected by a faction within the ruling house. This system of delegates was unilaterally introduced and was never agreed upon by our client or other disenfranchised members, who maintain their right to attend and participate directly in the statutory meeting of the ruling house.”
KWAM 1 said the delegate arrangement was unilateral and unlawful, arguing that it disenfranchised bona fide members of the ruling house who are entitled to participate directly in the nomination meeting.
KWAM 1 added that at least 14 other princes and princesses were listed as individuals denied entry into the meeting venue.
The petition also claimed that video evidence of the incident was attached to support the allegations.
In the petition, kWAM 1’s lawyer, Shittu, argued that the January 12 nomination exercise violated the Obas and Chiefs law of Ogun state, 2021, which requires that candidates be nominated at a properly constituted meeting of the ruling house.
He also claimed a breach of the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Declaration and a violation of the constitutional right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36 of the 1999 constitution.
“The deliberate exclusion of eligible members renders the entire nomination exercise fundamentally defective, unlawful and legally unsustainable,” the petition added.
The petitioners warned that any candidate emerging from the disputed process could face prolonged litigation, potentially destabilising the revered traditional institution.
KWAM 1 urged the Ogun state executive council to declare the January 12 nomination exercise null and void and order a fresh, transparent, and inclusive meeting of the Fusengbuwa ruling house.
He also asked the state government to ensure strict compliance with chieftaincy laws and to prevent further exclusion of eligible family members in the Awujale selection process.
“Declare the purported nomination exercise conducted by the Fusengbuwa ruling house on January 12, as null, void, and of no effect whatsoever, owing to the fundamental breaches of statutory provisions, constitutional rights, and principles of natural justice.
“Direct a fresh, transparent, inclusive, and fair nomination exercise for the Awujale stool, ensuring that all eligible members of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, including our client, are accorded their right to participate without any form of inhibition or discrimination,” the petition stated.
The petition included a notice of intended legal action, stating that failure by the state government to intervene could lead to court proceedings.
“Should urgent and appropriate steps not be taken by the executive council to address these legitimate grievances within a reasonable time, our client reserves the unequivocal right to seek redress before competent courts of law and other appropriate authorities, without further recourse or notice,” the petition concluded.
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