Subscribe: Gist E-Paper
Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote contacted him during the Osun State governorship election, urging him to delete his social media posts as results were being collated.
Speaking in an interview with News Central TV on Tuesday, the singer recounted the intense political atmosphere during the election, saying he came under pressure because of his real-time updates on X (formerly Twitter).
Davido alleged that more than ₦110 billion was moved into Osun by political opponents in an attempt to influence the outcome of the election through vote-buying and other means.
According to him, information from insiders exposed the scale of cash allegedly deployed, warning that such practices could threaten Nigeria's democratic process if left unchecked.
He said despite the alleged financial muscle of their opponents, his family's camp did not distribute money on election day, choosing instead to rely on the support of voters.
"We didn't spend a dime on election day. All we could do was pray that people would collect the money and still vote for us," he said.
The music star also claimed that some residents resisted attempts to disrupt the voting process, insisting that many voters were determined to protect their ballots.
Davido disclosed that as the election results were being collated, several influential figures contacted him, asking him to remove his posts from social media.
He specifically named Akpabio and Dangote among those who appealed to him but said he declined to take down the posts until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially announced the results.
According to him, he told Dangote that he would not delete any post until the electoral commission concluded the process.
Davido attributed Governor Ademola Adeleke's victory to the governor's popularity and support among the people rather than financial influence.
He urged public office holders to prioritise good governance, saying leaders who remain close to the people would earn their trust and support.
Davido has remained actively involved in Osun politics because of his family's long-standing political history in the state. His late uncle, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, was the state's first civilian governor, while Governor Ademola Adeleke is his uncle.
