No fewer than 95 contenders comprising 94 princes and one princess from the Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu Ode have emerged for the vacant stool of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land.

The contestants were nominated on Monday during a family meeting held at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

The nomination exercise was conducted by the leadership of the Fusengbuwa ruling house and observed by officials of the Ijebu Ode Local Government.

The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, alongside his deputy, Prince Adedokun Ajidagba, and the Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf.

The Secretary to the Ijebu Ode Local Government, Abiodun Oke, and other council officials attended as observers.

Among those nominated are Giwa Abiodun Onanuga, husband of a former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; Dr Kunle Hassan, an ophthalmologist and founder of Eyes Foundation Hospital; and Otunba Fatai Arowolo of Aron Construction.

The only female contender is Oluwakemi Onanuga, a legal practitioner.

Each aspirant was represented by two relatives at the meeting, one to propose and the other to second the nomination, after which the family formally registered the candidates.

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

Speaking after the meeting, the family head, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, praised members of the ruling house for conducting a peaceful and orderly nomination process.

He said the family had undertaken extensive traditional consultations and expressed confidence that the eventual selection would align with divine guidance and promote the progress of Ijebu land.

“We have successfully and harmoniously nominated 95 candidates. It is now left for the kingmakers to conscientiously select one of them as the next Awujale,” Owoyemi said.

He however expressed optimism that a new monarch would emerge within one month.

Owoyemi also disclosed that all contestants had signed an undertaking to accept the outcome of the selection process and refrain from litigation.

The nomination comes amid earlier controversy surrounding popular Fuji musician Ayinde Marshal (KWAM1), who had laid claim to the throne.

The Fusengbuwa ruling house, however, declared that the musician was not a member of the family and therefore ineligible to participate.

Ayinde was nowhere near the venue of the meeting neither was he nominated by any of the families.