Why Gov Okpebholo Reversed Davido ‘Ban’

The Edo State Government has moved swiftly to nullify a purported ban on Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, distancing Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration from inflammatory remarks made by a man widely reported as one of the governor’s media aides.

The intervention effectively transformed the supposed ban into an invitation, with the government declaring that Davido remains free to visit or perform in Edo State and could even receive official support for a future concert.

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Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, announced the government’s position on Friday, barely a day after Apostle Kassy Chukwu, identified in several reports as the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media, declared that Davido had been barred from performing in the state.

Chukwu had said in a viral video published by Peniel TV International that the restriction would remain in force throughout the rest of Okpebholo’s tenure.

“You have been banned from coming to Edo State to perform. We don’t want to see you in Edo again,” he declared.

He also warned that the singer could face physical assault if seen at an airport in the state, claiming that Edo youths were angry over Davido’s comments about the governor. The threat triggered widespread criticism and raised questions about whether a political aide had the authority to restrict a citizen’s movement or entertainment activities.

However, the state government emphatically disowned the declaration, describing the person behind it as an “enemy of Edo State,” an “impostor” and a “fraud.”

“Our enemies are at it again; we did not ban Davido from entering Edo State,” Afegbua said.

“The Government of Edo State hereby dissociates itself from such spiteful behaviour and wishes to state further that Edo State is home to all, regardless of their belief, political persuasion, affinity or legal affiliation.”

Afegbua added that the government would be willing to collaborate with Davido should the singer decide to stage a performance in Edo.

Although the government described the ban’s proclaimer as an impostor, it did not clarify whether it was disputing Chukwu’s reported position as an aide or merely denying that he had the authority to speak for the administration. GWG.ng and other leading news platforms including PUNCH and Premium Times identified him as a senior special assistant to the governor.

What was clear, however, was that no formal government directive or executive instrument accompanied Chukwu’s declaration. Afegbua’s response established that the purported ban was unauthorised and did not represent state policy.

The government’s rapid intervention appeared intended to achieve several objectives: protect Edo’s image as an open and hospitable state, prevent a political quarrel from becoming official policy, repudiate the threat of violence and acknowledge Davido’s maternal connection to Edo.

Afegbua described the singer as one of Edo’s “illustrious sons,” noting that his late mother, Dr Veronica Adeleke, hailed from the state.

“Davido is one of our illustrious sons, whose mother hails from Edo State. He is exemplary, and we are pleased to associate with him,” the commissioner said.

“Should he wish to visit Edo State, we would happily host and fete him.”

Davido’s maternal roots had become a major point of contention after the video surfaced. His logistics manager, Israel DMW, rejected the purported restriction, insisting that nobody could ban the singer from what he described as his maternal home. He also challenged Chukwu’s authority to speak for Edo people.

Some Edo residents similarly reacted angrily. One elderly indigene told GWG.ng that it was offensive for anyone without deep roots in the state to attempt to exclude Davido, whose mother was from Edo.

“How can someone who is not from Edo ban Davido from his mother’s state?” the senior citizen asked.

Beyond Davido’s ancestry, the government also appeared concerned about the damage the controversy could cause to Edo’s cultural and entertainment image. Afegbua praised the singer as a global ambassador who had promoted Nigeria internationally and built bridges across political and social divides.

“As a government, we are pleased with his conduct, commitment and calculated conquest in the music industry. Indeed, we look forward to him being awarded a Grammy title,” he said.

The feud began during campaigning for the August 15 Osun State governorship election. Okpebholo, while campaigning for the All Progressives Congress candidate, mocked Governor Ademola Adeleke—Davido’s uncle—over his frequent dancing at public events and questioned his seriousness as a leader.

Davido responded by sharing what appeared to be Okpebholo’s West African Examinations Council result on Instagram. The authenticity and context of the document were not independently established.

During a subsequent News Central interview, Davido refused to apologise, saying he had merely shown Edo residents the academic record attributed to their governor. He also criticised Okpebholo for leaving Edo to campaign against Adeleke in Osun and accused him of being “selected” rather than elected.

Afegbua has now attempted to draw a line under the confrontation, insisting that the exchanges in Osun were campaign rhetoric rather than a personal war.

“Whatever transpired in Osun State in the wake of last week’s election was purely politics and nothing more,” he said. “There was nothing personal in the conversations that deepened the campaigns.”

The government’s reversal does not necessarily end the disagreement between Davido and Okpebholo, but it removes the purported performance ban from Edo’s official position. From being warned to stay away, Davido is now being publicly recognised as an illustrious Edo son whom the government says it is prepared to host, celebrate and partner with.