Tension gripped Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Friday as dozens of residents staged a peaceful protest against what they described as attempts to impose a candidate in the ongoing selection for the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
The demonstrators marched along Awujale Palace Road, chanting solidarity songs as they proceeded to the Ijebu Ode Local Government Secretariat to voice their concerns to local authorities.
The protest reflects growing anxiety over transparency and fairness in the succession process for one of Yorubaland’s most respected traditional stools.
Earlier this week, the Ogun State Government suspended the selection process following a surge of petitions and security warnings. The decision was communicated in a letter dated January 20, 2026, signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, addressed to the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government Area.
In the letter, the Commissioner stated, “The Awujale stool is a foremost stool in Yorubaland generally and in Ogun State particularly. The stature of the immediate past Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for sixty-five years, significantly enhanced the modern esteem and prestige of the stool.”
The government explained that the suspension was based on security intelligence and petitions from key stakeholders and security agencies, adding that the move was essential to preserve public order and protect the integrity of the selection process.
“To maintain public order, safeguard the integrity of the process, and uphold the veneration of the stool, it has become necessary to halt the selection process at this time,” the letter concluded.
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