By Our Reporter I Tuesday, August 18, 2026
OSOGBO — Internationally acclaimed Afrobeat megastar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has made explosive revelations concerning the Osun State governorship election, alleging that the All Progressives Congress (APC) deployed over ₦110 billion in a failed bid to buy votes and secure victory.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on News Central TV, the music star revealed that his figure was based on direct intelligence obtained from an insider within the political structure.
According to Davido, despite the massive mobilization by the ruling party—which included the presence of 17 state governors, nearly 50 senators, and dozens of members of the House of Representatives—the APC was soundly defeated because the electorate in Osun firmly stood their ground.
Contrasting the alleged financial mobilization of the opposition with their own strategy, Davido asserted that neither he nor his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, spent money on vote-buying on election day.
He credited the victory entirely to the residents of Osun, noting that the populace chose to defend their mandate because Governor Adeleke had genuinely worked for their welfare.
”The people of Osun stood by him because he delivered on his promises,” Davido stated, adding that the electorate displayed unprecedented resilience against intimidation.
He described the level of violence during the exercise as parallel to none, recounting how brave citizens physically resisted political thugs who attempted to snatch ballot boxes at various polling units.
Allegations Against INEC and Delays
Addressing the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the singer alleged that the electoral body intentionally halted the uploading of election results to its portal for nearly five hours.
He claimed the prolonged pause was an attempt to find ways to manipulate the final outcome—a move that ultimately failed because the opposition was already maintaining an unassailable lead of over 60,000 votes.
Davido warned that had the APC succeeded in taking Osun through voter suppression, intimidation, and financial inducement, similar tactics would have been replicated across the country in the 2027 general elections.
He urged political stakeholders and citizens across Nigeria to view the Osun election as an essential blueprint for democratic resistance.
Standoff with the Senate President
Davido also disclosed a high-level attempt to censor his commentary during the tense collation process. He revealed that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and business mogul, Aliko Dangote personally phoned him, asking him to take down his social media posts regarding the election updates.
However, the music icon stood his ground, informing the Senate President that he would only delete the tweets after INEC officially declared his uncle the winner.
Commending the steadfastness of the people, Davido recounted how residents followed the voting process closely from the local polling units to the main state collation center, staying awake all night to ensure every vote counted.
In appreciation of their sacrifice, the singer promised to construct a modern stadium equipped with recreational facilities in Osun and announced plans to host his flagship “Davido Concert” in the state to officially launch the venue.
Previous electoral cycles in the state had been marred by controversies surrounding “inconclusive” declarations and heavy security presence, making voter turnout and mandate protection a central focus for civil society organizations and local voters alike.
Adeleke’s eventual victory was celebrated by supporters as a triumph of grassroots mobilization over political incumbency.
