By John Umeh
Fuji music icon King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popularly known as KWAM1 or K1 De Ultimate, has formally written to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, protesting his alleged exclusion from the process to nominate candidates for the vacant Awujale of Ijebuland stool.
The development was disclosed on Sunday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Olayinka revealed the information via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to him, the renowned musician expressed strong reservations about how the nomination process is being conducted, insisting that it must strictly adhere to established legal and traditional procedures to ensure fairness and justice.
KWAM1โs concerns were conveyed through a formal letter issued by his legal representative, Wahab K. Shittu, SAN, dated January 8, 2026, and addressed to the Ogun State Executive Council through the governor. In the petition, the musician reportedly called on the state government to intervene and review steps taken so far, which he described as flawed and exclusionary.
The Fuji star alleged that the leadership of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House is orchestrating a process that could disenfranchise eligible family members who wish to participate in the nomination exercise. He argued that certain directives issued by individuals within the ruling house were contrary to laid-down laws and traditional declarations governing the selection of the Awujale.
Specifically, KWAM1 faulted the instruction that prospective candidates must obtain nomination forms and undergo screening before a panel. He maintained that such requirements are not provided for under the Chieftaincy Declaration or the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Ogun State.
In the letter, his counsel referenced a directive earlier issued by the Ijebu-Ode Local Government, which instructed the ruling house to convene a statutory meeting within 14 days to nominate candidates for the vacant throne. The petition claimed that this lawful process was undermined by a subsequent notice allegedly issued by a member of the ruling house, announcing a separate nomination procedure involving delegates, screening panels, and nomination cards.
KWAM1 warned that these actions could trigger unnecessary tension and crisis within the ruling house, stressing that all eligible members have the right to participate freely in the nomination of candidates without being sidelined by a select group.
He urged the Ogun State Government to act swiftly in the interest of transparency, legality, and harmony, warning that failure to correct the process could compromise the credibility of the entire exercise.
The petition underscores growing concerns surrounding the succession process for the revered Awujale stool, a matter of deep cultural and historical significance in Ijebuland.
