Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and businessman Aliko Dangote contacted him during the Osun State governorship election and asked him to remove some of his posts on social media.
Davido made the claim during an interview with News Central TV on Tuesday, while discussing his involvement in monitoring the election and the events surrounding the contest.
The singer alleged that more than N110bn was brought into Osun State by political actors in an attempt to influence the election.
He said, “I just confirmed today. They spent N110 billion. I’m coming from somewhere where we had an insider who was sending us… If you see the cash these people brought in.”
According to Davido, the alleged use of money and violence could have created a dangerous precedent for future elections in Nigeria.
“If they had gotten away with that election, Nigeria is finished. Because the blueprint for election will now be violence and money,” he said.
Davido said his family’s camp did not distribute money to voters on election day, adding that they relied on voters to protect their ballots and support his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
“We didn’t spend a dime on election day. All we could do was just pray that these people take their money and vote for us,” he said.
He also claimed that some voters confronted individuals allegedly attempting to interfere with ballot materials.
“It got to a point where it was the Osun people that were beating the people that were trying to seize ballots. People are tired,” he added.
The singer further disclosed that he received calls from influential figures as he posted updates about the election results on X.
Davido claimed that Akpabio attempted to reach the collation centre and that he was also contacted over his social media posts.
“They were calling me to delete. I said sorry o. You guys have literally just gone against my uncle. I can’t delete anything,” he said.
He added that Dangote also contacted him, but he refused to remove the posts until the Independent National Electoral Commission announced the official result.
“Uncle Aliko called me too. I said, ‘Uncle, I’m not deleting until the INEC announcement,’” Davido said.
Davido said the outcome of the election demonstrated that voters could overcome financial and political pressure when they remained committed to their preferred candidate.
“My uncle should be an example to all other government officials and governors. When you stand by the people, the people will stand by you,” he stated.
Davido has remained actively involved in Osun politics because of his family’s political background. His late uncle, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, was the first civilian governor of Osun State, while his other uncle, Ademola Adeleke, currently serves as governor.
