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Monarch condemns circulation of purported palace statement blaming NDC presidential candidate for Asaba rally violence, describes publication as malicious political mischief

By Our Correspondent 

The Palace of the Asagba of Asaba has disowned a purported letter addressed to the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, over the violence that disrupted the party’s campaign rally in Asaba, describing the publication as fake and alleging that its letterhead and signature were generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The palace, in a public notice signed by its Chief of Staff, Chief Barr. Philips E. Nwokolo, said the purported letter did not emanate from the throne and condemned its circulation as a malicious act allegedly orchestrated by political jobbers.

The disclaimer followed the circulation of a document purportedly bearing the official letterhead of the Asagba’s Palace and suggesting that the traditional institution had blamed Obi and his political pressure groups for the unrest that occurred during the NDC rally in Asaba on November 7.

Describing the publication as false, the palace insisted that Asagba had already made his position on the incident clear during a press conference, where he condemned political intolerance and violence in all its forms.

According to the notice, the monarch maintained that Asaba, which he described as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful capital cities, was opposed to violence, whether politically motivated or otherwise.

The palace said the Asagba had also admonished politicians and political parties to respect the wishes of the people, while urging them to seek adequate security protection before embarking on rallies, demonstrations or peaceful protests.

It particularly rejected the narrative that the monarch had berated Obi and his political support groups as being solely responsible for the disruption of the rally.

“The false narrative that HRM berates Mr Peter Obi and his political pressure groups for being solely responsible for yesterday’s unrest, using Artificial Intelligence to produce fake palace letterhead and signature shows how desperate some political actors have become and must be nipped in the bud by the appropriate quarters,” the notice stated.

The palace expressed concern over the alleged use of its official identity to circulate a statement it described as unauthorised, warning against dragging the traditional institution into partisan political controversies.

It consequently urged journalists, media organisations and members of the public to disregard the purported letter, insisting that both the letterhead and signature appearing on the document were fake.

The clarification comes amid heightened political tension following the reported attack on supporters during the NDC mobilisation rally in Asaba, which has attracted condemnations and calls for investigation and accountability.

The palace’s intervention underscores the need for caution in the circulation of purported official statements, particularly those attributed to respected traditional institutions, as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Full text of the Asagba statement reads:

ROYAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The attention of the Palace of His Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba has been drawn to a publication on a fake Palace letter headed paper purportedly addressing the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress, His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi on the unfortunate incident that occurred in Asaba yesterday during NDC’s campaign rally.

The Palace of His Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba wishes to inform the general public that the said letter did not emanate from the throne and utterly condenms such malicious and despicable act which is believed to be the handiwork of political jobbers.

His Royal Majesty had earlier granted a press conference where he made the position of the palace very clear. His Royal Majesty in his Press Conference, condenmed the acts of political intolerance that occurred yesterday as he maintained that Asaba as the most peaceful capital city in Nigeria is against violence of any sort, be it political or otherwise. His Royal Majesty admonished politicians and political parties to respect the wishes of the people at all times while also advising political parties to seek adequate security protection before engaging in any rally or peace protest.

Therefore, the false narrative that HRM berates Mr. Peter Obi and his political pressure groups for being solely responsible for yesterday’s unrest, using Artificial Intelligence to produce fake palace letterhead and signature shows how desperate some political actors have become and must be nipped in the bud by the appropriate quarters.

Finally, the palace urges media persons and members of the public to disregard the said publication and place no value on it as both the letter headed paper and the signature therein are fake.

Chief Barr. Philips E. Nwokolo
Chief of Staff to the Palace of His Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba.