Ijebu Chiefs Dissolve Awujale Interim Council, Form New Body

The chiefs, led by Dr Sonny Kuku, say the new Adele Oba Awujale in Council will assume interim administrative responsibilities, citing traditional customs and Ogun State’s chieftaincy laws

Traditional chiefs in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, have resolved to dissolve the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council (AIAC) and replace it with a 14-member Adele Oba Awujale in Council to oversee the affairs of the ancient town pending the selection and installation of a substantive monarch.

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The decision was reached at a meeting involving the Ilamuren, Pampa, Odi and other traditional chiefs in Ijebu-Ode, with the resolution unanimously directing members of the existing administrative council to relinquish their positions and transition into the newly recognised traditional arrangement.

The resolution, signed by the Chairman of the Adele Oba Awujale in Council, Dr Sonny Kuku, was reported on Monday, November 2, 2026, following deliberations on the appropriate administrative structure for Ijebu-Ode during the interregnum.

The chiefs said the decision followed their consideration of the traditional and statutory frameworks governing the Awujale chieftaincy institution, particularly the Ogun State Chiefs Law of 2021 and the 1957 Declaration.

According to the resolution, the Ogun State Chiefs Law does not expressly establish an Awujale Regency Council or prescribe a general procedure for appointing a regent during a period without a substantive monarch.

The traditional leaders, however, argued that the law, alongside the 1957 Declaration, provides a framework for recognising customary arrangements, including the Adele Oba Awujale in Council.

The resolution stated: “Upon consideration of the applicable traditional and statutory framework, it was observed that the Ogun State Chiefs Law of 2021 does not expressly establish an Awujale Regency Council, nor does it prescribe a general procedure for the appointment of a Regent.”

It added that the chiefs had unanimously adopted a motion directing members of the AIAC to step down from their existing positions and assume membership of the new council.

“Consequently, the Adele Oba Awujale in Council shall henceforth assume responsibility for the administration of the affairs of Ijebu-Ode during the interregnum and exercise, on an interim basis, such administrative powers and functions as may appropriately be required in the absence of the Awujale, subject to applicable laws and established customs and traditions,” the statement read.

The proposed 14-member council is chaired by Dr Sonny Kuku, who holds the Ogbeni Oja title and is a prominent figure within the Ijebu traditional institution.

Other members include Chief Rasheed Adesanya (Olisa), Chief O.B. Okuboyejo (Obasewa), Chief Chris Funmilola Okunowo (Bobasuwa) and Chief Professor Jide Ajayi (Jagun Aso).

The remaining members are Chief Oluwaranti Lekan Osifeso (Olootu Olowa), Chief Jimi Lawal (Olotu Ifore), Chief Kunle Ogunade (Apebi), Chief Mrs B.O. Osibogun (Iyalode), Chief Adegoke Balogun (Jaginrin), Chief Agboola Alausa (Balogun), Chief Abimbola Okenla (Kakanfo), Chief Adebisi Adaran (Ogbeni Odi Awujale) and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja (Lapoekun).

The chiefs described the arrangement as a traditional administrative structure intended to maintain continuity and stability in Ijebu-Ode while the process of selecting a successor to the late Awujale continues.

They also maintained that the decision reflected their collective responsibility to preserve the integrity of the Awujale chieftaincy institution and protect the customs and cultural heritage of Ijebuland.

“Our position is firmly rooted in the ancient customs, established cultural practices and time-honoured traditions of the Ijebu people, particularly as they relate to the Awujale Chieftaincy Institution,” the chiefs said.

How the Awujale succession crisis developed

The development comes more than a year after the death of the immediate past Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who died on July 13, 2025, aged 91, after reigning for more than 65 years.

Following his death, the Ogun State Government established the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council to oversee administrative and traditional responsibilities during the transition period.

The arrangement was announced by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, with Chief Folorunso Kuku, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland and co-founder of EKO Hospital, appointed to chair the administrative body.

However, the succession process has encountered considerable challenges, including disagreements over the selection procedure and interventions by the state government.

In December 2025, the Fusengbuwa ruling house, which is entitled to produce the next Awujale under the established succession arrangement, reportedly nominated 95 aspirants, comprising 94 princes and one princess, for consideration.

The selection process was subsequently suspended by the Ogun State Government in January 2026 following petitions and concerns about procedural issues. The suspension came after an earlier interruption in December 2025.

The prolonged delay also led to legal action by members of the ruling house, who approached the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode seeking to compel the kingmakers to reconvene and conclude the selection process.

The dispute included allegations concerning the closure of the Awujale Palace in January 2026, which the claimants argued prevented the kingmakers from completing their statutory responsibilities.

The controversy has consequently extended beyond the question of who succeeds Oba Adetona to include broader concerns about the authority of traditional institutions, the role of government and the legal procedures governing the emergence of a new monarch.

More recently, Governor Dapo Abiodun assured the people of Ijebuland that a new Awujale would emerge before May 2027, expressing confidence that the succession process would be resolved.

The latest resolution by the chiefs introduces another dimension to the transition by seeking to establish a traditional administrative structure while the substantive succession process remains unresolved.

However, the announcement does not in itself establish that the new council has received formal recognition or approval from the Ogun State Government. Its proposed authority will therefore remain subject to applicable statutory provisions and any relevant government decisions.

The distinction is important because the administration of Ijebu-Ode during the interregnum and the formal selection and installation of the next Awujale are separate responsibilities.

For the people of Ijebuland, the immediate priority remains maintaining stability and preserving the traditional institution during a period of uncertainty.

The new council’s effectiveness will depend on its acceptance among relevant traditional stakeholders, its relationship with the state government and its ability to operate within the legal framework governing chieftaincy affairs in Ogun State.

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As discussions over the vacant throne continue, the chiefs say their decision is intended to protect the heritage of Ijebuland and ensure that traditional administration does not suffer a vacuum.