The Yoruba have a right to self-determination under International law.

The UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) 1960 says: 'All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’. Nigeria is signatory to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Article 20: 1 says: ‘All peoples shall have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self- determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen’. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) adopted the Charter in 1981.

The proposed Oduduwa Republic enjoys protection under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which prohibits a Member State from exercising force against a non-member not recognised as a state. General Assembly Resolution 3314 [XXIX] of 14 December 1974 allows the Security Council to intervene to ensure effective protection for a non-member state.