Veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Jide Kosoko has been formally declared Oloja of Lagos-elect by the King Kosoko Royal Family, ending years of vacancy and controversy over the traditional title. The announcement was made on Monday, January 27, 2026, at the King Kosoko Palace on Ereko, Lagos Island, in a ceremony attended by family members, supporters, and members of the royal dynasty. 

The Oloja of Lagos is a historic and culturally significant chieftaincy position with deep roots in the traditional governance and heritage of Lagos. The stool has remained vacant since Chief Adebola Ige passed away on December 23, 2017, leaving a gap in the chieftaincy circle that has persisted for more than eight years. 

During the declaration ceremony at the palace, the Olori Ebi General of the King Kosoko Royal Family, Mrs Mutiat Ali-Balogun, officially presented Prince Jide Kosoko as the Oloja-elect, raising his hand in affirmation amid traditional rites and prayers in line with palace customs. She was supported by Oyindamola Ayepola, Deputy Olori Ebi General and head of the Meshimo Ruling House. 

According to members of the ruling house, the selection of Jide Kosoko followed long-standing palace conventions and consultation among senior family members. A 16-member committee was constituted years earlier to oversee the succession process, reviewing eligible princes and nominees for the revered stool. The committee invited aspirants from the Akinsanya Olojo Kosoko Ruling House and others, with candidates participating in screenings and traditional interviews at the Kosoko Palace. 

Following several meetings and deliberations guided by the Lagos State Obas and Chiefs Law and customary practices, the committee agreed that Kosoko was the most suitable candidate to be declared Oloja-elect. This decision reflects a blend of traditional norms and family consensus within the King Kosoko Royal Dynasty. 

After his selection, members of the ruling house also engaged with the Lagos State Government to seek approval for Kosoko’s formal installation and capping. The next step in the process will be the traditional installation ceremony, which is expected to be conducted by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, in accordance with palace protocols once approvals and arrangements are finalised. 

The stool of Oloja of Lagos carries cultural weight in the history and governance of Lagos’s traditional institutions, even though it does not confer formal political power in the modern state system. The title historically linked holders to roles in cultural leadership, conflict resolution, and community representation within the Lagos royal framework. The Kosoko dynasty itself traces its origins back to royal lineages and historical kings of Lagos, highlighting the stool’s symbolic importance. 

Jide Kosoko, who is 72 years old, brings decades of public service and cultural influence to the role. Born on January 12, 1954, on Lagos Island, he began his acting career as a child in 1964 and has since built a distinguished profile in Nigerian film, theatre, and television. Kosoko has appeared in numerous Nollywood productions, both in English and Yoruba, and is widely regarded as one of the industry’s most respected veterans. 

Despite the declaration, the announcement comes amid an ongoing succession dispute within the broader King Kosoko Royal Dynasty. A separate branch of the extended family, the Akinsanya Olojo Family, has repeatedly petitioned the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urging approval and intervention to confirm another candidate, Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko, whom they say was chosen as Oloja-elect in December 2020 and has yet to be installed. 

In statements released in late 2025, the Akinsanya Olojo Ruling House maintained that their nominee was properly screened and selected under customary law, arguing that delays in formal installation have prolonged uncertainty over the vacant stool. They have called on authorities to intervene and address what they described as a delay in approval and installation. 

The emergence of Jide Kosoko as Oloja of Lagos-elect has drawn significant attention among cultural watchers, Nollywood followers, and Lagos residents following years of vacancy. As the next phase unfolds, attention now turns to the formal installation, prayers, and palace rites that will officially confer the traditional title in line with long-held customs.