By News Desk

BENIN CITY, Nigeria — The Edo State Government, headed by Governor Monday Okpebholo, has declared Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, barred from entering or performing in the state. The declaration marks an explosive escalation in an ongoing political feud ignited after the musician exposed the governor’s secondary school examination results on social media.

The move mirrors previous controversial mobility restrictions issued by Governor Okpebholo’s administration against high-profile opposition leaders, including 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Leaked WAEC Result Sparks Government Anger

The confrontation between the state executive and the pop star erupted during campaign activities ahead of the Osun State governorship election:

• The Academic Exposure: After Governor Okpebholo publicly mocked Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke—Davido’s uncle—the singer retaliated by posting what appeared to be Okpebholo’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result on his Instagram Story, showing a string of D7 and E8 grades.
• Refusal to Back Down: Despite intense pressure and public demands from government allies to apologize, Davido declared during a national television interview that he had no intention of apologizing for sharing the public document.
• Executive Backlash: Angered by the public embarrassment, senior administration officials accused the singer of disrespecting the governor and circulating a “manipulated” document.

Threats at Airport and Entry Ban

Speaking on behalf of the administration in a video statement, the Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media to the Edo State Governor, Apostle Kassy Chukwu, declared that the singer is no longer welcome anywhere within the state’s borders:

• Total Entry Ban: Chukwu explicitly declared that Davido is forbidden from entering Edo State for any purpose, warning event organizers against attempting to book him during Governor Okpebholo’s tenure.
• Airport and Safety Warnings: The governor’s aide warned that the state could not guarantee the singer’s safety if he arrived at state transport hubs or the Benin Airport, claiming local youths were mobilized and angered by his posts.

A Pattern of Restricting Movement

The action against Davido has drawn immediate comparisons to the administration’s past attempts to restrict political figures:

• The Peter Obi Precedent: Governor Okpebholo sparked national outrage when he previously warned Peter Obi that he was barred from entering Edo State without first obtaining prior approval and security clearance from the Governor’s Office.
• Constitutional Rights Violation: Legal experts, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, have repeatedly condemned the administration’s entry “bans,” noting that Section 41 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the fundamental right to freedom of movement across all 36 states.

Neither the Edo State Police Command nor the main executive office of Governor Okpebholo has issued a formal statutory order attempting to override constitutional guarantees.