History

The Mid-Western Region of Nigeria was created in June 1963 from the Benin and Delta provinces of the former Western Region. Its capital was Benin City. In 1967, following the adoption of a new 12-state structure by the federal government, the region was reorganized as Midwest State, maintaining its territorial integrity. This name remained until 1976, when it was renamed Bendel State.

During the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), Biafran forces invaded Midwest State in a bid to reach Lagos and bring the war to a swift conclusion. While under Biafran control, the state was briefly declared the "Republic of Benin." However, this republic lasted only a day before Nigerian federal troops recaptured Benin City and restored federal authority.

On 27 August 1991, Bendel State was split into two separate states: Edo and Delta. Edo State, with Benin City as its capital, became the homeland of the Edo people, whose political organization is traditionally based on a three-tier age-grade system that emphasizes age over lineage as a source of authority. Benin City itself mirrors this age-grade structure, alongside a system of wards and hereditary and non-hereditary chiefs who serve the Oba in various specialized roles. The Oba of Benin remains the spiritual and political centerpiece of the Edo people's governance system, which is rooted in the principle of divine kingship.