Davido Can’t Be Banned From Edo, Israel DMW Fires Back at Governor Okpebholo’s Directive

Davido’s logistics manager, Israel DMW, has rejected the reported ban on the singer performing in Edo State, insisting that no one has the authority to stop the Afrobeats star from appearing in the state.

Israel, who hails from Edo State, was reacting to a directive reportedly issued by Governor Monday Okpebholo following the singer’s public disagreement with the governor over the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.

The controversy began after Okpebholo criticised Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke during the election campaign. Davido, who is Adeleke’s nephew, responded on social media and challenged the Edo governor over his comments.

Apostle Kassy Chukwu, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media, subsequently announced in a video on Friday that Davido had been barred from performing in Edo State because of the online exchange with Okpebholo.

Israel strongly rejected the directive, arguing that Davido has family ties to Edo through his mother. He also questioned the authority of the governor’s aide to speak on behalf of Edo residents.

In a post on Instagram, Israel described Chukwu as a non-indigene of Edo and accused him of causing problems in Benin City. His comments included several personal insults directed at the governor’s aide.

Israel concluded by insisting that Davido could not be stopped from performing in Edo, referring to the state as the singer’s “maternal home”.

The dispute has now added another layer to the political and entertainment controversy surrounding Davido and Governor Okpebholo. Neither the governor nor his office had, at the time of the report, publicly responded to Israel’s remarks.