The early view of the Baha'is was that Abdul Baha would be succeeded by Mirza Muhammad Ali.

The early view of the Bahais was that Abdul Baha would be succeeded by Mirza Muhammad Ali. After he had a disagreement with Abdul Baha he was 'replaced' by Shoghi. The Will and Testament of Abdul Baha can be read as a justification of the appointment of Shoghi and dismissal of Muhammad Ali, by comparing Mirza Muhammad Ali to Mirza Yahya and by attributing misdeeds and crimes to him. Now Bahais believe that Abdul Baha was always to be succeeded by Shoghi (and Shoghi by the UHJ), but this is not historically accurate.

https://www.reddit.com/r/FreeSpeechBahai/comments/1cq86pl/ambiguity_of_the_matters_of_successorship_in/