ASABA/Nigeria: The Palace of the Asagba of Asaba has disowned a controversial letter circulating on social media, purportedly addressed to the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, over the violence that disrupted the party’s campaign procession in Asaba, Delta State.
In a public notice signed by the Chief of Staff to the Palace, Chief Barr. Philips E. Nwokolo, the traditional institution described the purported letter as fabricated, insisting that it neither originated from the Palace nor represented the position of His Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba.
The Palace condemned the circulation of the document, alleging that it was the handiwork of political actors seeking to misrepresent the monarch’s position on the incident.
It explained that the Asagba had already addressed the matter during an earlier press conference, where he expressed concern over the violence and condemned political intolerance in all its forms.
According to the Palace, the monarch maintained that Asaba should remain a peaceful city and reiterated his opposition to violence, whether arising from political activities or other circumstances.
He also urged politicians and political parties to respect the wishes of the people and ensure adequate security arrangements before organising rallies, demonstrations or peaceful protests.
The Palace particularly rejected the narrative contained in the disputed document suggesting that the traditional ruler had held Peter Obi and his political support groups solely responsible for the unrest that followed the NDC campaign procession.
Describing the purported use of its official identity to circulate the document as disturbing, the Palace alleged that artificial intelligence (AI) had been deployed to reproduce its letterhead and signature in an attempt to give credibility to the false communication.
It warned that such actions could undermine public confidence in established traditional institutions and create unnecessary tension within the political environment.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of the violent incident during the NDC-supported Obidient/OK Movement procession along Nnebisi Road, Asaba, on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed that the incident resulted in one death and injuries to five other persons, adding that investigations had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence and identify those responsible.
The Palace consequently appealed to journalists, media organisations and members of the public to disregard the purported letter, stressing that neither the letterhead nor the signature appearing on the document was authentic.
It also urged media practitioners to exercise caution and verify statements attributed to the throne before publication, particularly those capable of inflaming political tensions or misrepresenting the position of traditional institutions.
The Palace reaffirmed its commitment to peace, mutual respect and peaceful political engagement in Asaba, warning against attempts to drag the traditional institution into partisan political disputes.
