A political war of words between Afrobeats superstar Davido and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has boiled over into a public ban, after a senior aide to the governor declared that the singer will no longer be welcome to perform anywhere in the state.
Apostle Kassy Chukwu, the Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media to Governor Okpebholo, made the declaration in a video shared by Peniel TV International in Benin City. He accused Davido of making disrespectful remarks about the governor and his family, and warned that the singer would not be allowed to perform in Edo for the remainder of Okpebholo’s tenure.
Chukwu went further, cautioning that Davido could face a hostile reception if he ever returned to the state, including at the airport, claiming that angry youths in Edo had vowed to stop anyone from bringing the singer back for a show.
The fallout traces back to the Osun State governorship election, where Okpebholo publicly mocked Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke, Davido’s uncle, during a campaign stop for the ruling party’s candidate. Davido responded by sharing what he claimed was Okpebholo’s WAEC result on his Instagram Story, an act the governor’s camp has since dismissed as a fabricated document. When pressed on the post in a later interview, Davido stood by his decision and said he had no reason to apologise.
The controversy has since taken another twist, with Edo State’s information commissioner publicly distancing the government from Chukwu’s comments, describing him as an impostor and insisting the state remains open to all artistes regardless of political affiliation. Davido’s camp has yet to issue a formal response to the ban itself, leaving the standoff unresolved for now.
Edo State, and Benin City in particular, has long been a key stop on the southern Nigerian concert circuit, meaning any lasting restriction could carry real consequences for future tours. For now, fans and industry watchers are left waiting to see whether the dispute cools down or escalates further.
