Oba of Benin Sparks Controversy as PDP Loses Edo State: A Deeper Look

Recent events have thrust the Oba of Benin into the spotlight, with political analysts attributing the Edo State loss of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to Governor Godwin Obaseki’s bold decision to take Oba Ewuare II to court.

Adding fuel to the fire, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have begun circulating an old video of the Oba dancing, presenting it as a recent clip to mock PDP’s Asue Ighodalo and Obaseki following the party’s defeat to APC candidate Monday Okpebholo.

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In May, Obaseki initiated a lawsuit against the Oba, alleging possession of cultural artifacts. However, court documents revealed that both the Edo Attorney General and the Oba of Benin were named in the suit, a standard legal protocol. In essence, the state had indeed taken the Oba to court, a move considered an abomination in Nigerian culture, where suing a king is frowned upon. This action has led analysts to suggest that the PDP’s defeat may be a consequence of angering the gods and the people of Edo.

Nevertheless, alongside these cultural interpretations, there are viral videos showing alleged vote buying and images purportedly indicating manipulation of election results that could logically explain the APC’s victory.