After that, Ennei worked as the acting chief priest as was determined until Choken OTANI, the third son of Kocho, succeeded to the twenty-fifth chief priest on July 31. 1996.
その後も引き続き門首代行に就くことが決められ、同年7月31日に光暢の三男・大谷暢顕が第二十五代門首を継承するまでの間、その任に当たった。