Edo State Government has announced that Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, will not be allowed to perform in the state throughout the tenure of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The announcement was made by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media, Apostle Kassy Chukwu, in a video circulated by Peniel TV International, Benin City, on Thursday, following the escalating public disagreement between the singer and the governor.
Chukwu said the decision followed comments allegedly made by Davido against Governor Okpebholo and his family during the political exchanges that trailed the recent Osun State governorship election.
Addressing the singer in the video, Chukwu declared: “You have been banned from coming to Edo State to perform. We don’t want to see you in Edo again.”
He further claimed that many young people in Edo State were angered by Davido’s remarks about the governor.
“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,” Chukwu said.
The governor’s aide also accused the music star of sharing what he described as an altered version of Governor Okpebholo’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result on social media, cautioning him against making similar posts in the future.
The dispute between both men began in the build-up to the August 15 Osun State governorship election after Governor Okpebholo, while campaigning in the state, criticised Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke over his style of governance and public dancing. Governor Adeleke is Davido’s uncle.
The disagreement intensified after Davido shared on his Instagram Story what he claimed was Governor Okpebholo’s WASSCE result, a post that quickly generated widespread reactions on social media.
The Afrobeats star later defended his action during an interview, insisting he had nothing to apologise for. According to him, he merely exposed the academic record of a governor who travelled to Osun State to campaign against his uncle, while also questioning why Governor Okpebholo chose to leave Edo State for the election campaign.
