BENIN CITY, Nigeria – The Edo State Government has barred Nigerian singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, from performing in the state for the remainder of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s tenure, with a government aide warning that his safety may not be guaranteed if he returns.
Apostle Kassy Chukwu, senior special assistant on digital media to Okpebholo, made the declaration in a video published on YouTube by Peniel TV International, based in Benin City, on Thursday. Okay News reports that Chukwu also warned Davido against returning to Edo State.
“You have been banned from coming to Edo State to perform. We don’t want to see you in Edo again,” Chukwu said.
Chukwu further claimed that some Edo youths were angry with the singer over his comments about the governor and warned that Davido could face resistance if he returned to the state.
“Edo youths are angry. They said if they catch you again, nobody should bring Davido to come and perform in any place again in Edo State,” he said.
The warning followed a public dispute between Davido and Okpebholo linked to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Okpebholo had criticised Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke during the election campaign. Adeleke is Davido’s uncle.
Davido subsequently shared what appeared to be a copy of Okpebholo’s West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result on his Instagram Story.
In a later interview, Davido defended the post and said he had no reason to apologise to the Edo governor. He argued that he shared the document to show Osun residents the academic record of a governor who had travelled to the state to campaign against his uncle.
The singer also criticised Okpebholo for leaving Edo State to participate in another state’s election and questioned the legitimacy of the governor’s mandate.
Chukwu accused Davido of making disrespectful comments about Okpebholo and his family and warned the singer against making similar posts in the future.
He also disputed the authenticity of the academic document shared by Davido, alleging that it had been manipulated.
The claims about the document’s authenticity and the alleged anger among Edo youths were not independently established in the statement provided.
