In 1551 he succeeded the head of the family after his father's sudden death, but faced a succession dispute with his younger brother Nobuyuki (Nobukatsu) ODA.
天文(元号)20年（1551年）、急死した父の後を受けて家督を継ぐも、同母弟・織田信行（信勝）と家督争いが発生する。