Davido: “They Wanted Me to Delete My Post” — Singer Alleges Political Pressure During Osun Election
Afrobeats superstar Davido has made fresh allegations about the intense political battle surrounding the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote contacted him during the election period and asked him to delete a post he had published on X.
Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, made the claims while reflecting on the election and the eventual victory of his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke.
According to the singer, the financial and political stakes in the election were enormous. He alleged that some political actors arrived at the election with huge amounts of cash and argued that, had their alleged strategy succeeded, it could have established a dangerous precedent for future Nigerian elections.
> “If you saw the cash these people brought to the election that day. If they had gotten away with that election, Nigeria would have been finished by now because the blueprint of Nigerian election would have been violence and vote buying.”
Davido further claimed that his own camp did not spend money on voters on election day, insisting: **“We didn’t spend a dime on the Election Day.”**
The singer also alleged that attempts were made to influence his social-media activity while the results were being collated. He said he heard that the Senate President was attempting to contact the coalition centre and that Akpabio personally called him, asking him to delete one of his posts.
Davido said he declined.
> “I said sir, sorry o. You guys have literally gone against my uncle. I can't delete anything. Uncle Aliko also called. I said I won’t delete till INEC announces it.”
The allegations, however, remain claims made by Davido and should not be interpreted as established facts unless independently substantiated by the individuals named or credible documentary evidence.
The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of a highly competitive Osun governorship contest involving Adeleke of the Accord Party and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, among others. INEC had initially scheduled the election for August 8, 2026, before moving the poll to August 15.
The election had been preceded by months of heated political rhetoric. Adeleke had repeatedly warned voters about alleged attempts to manipulate the electoral process, while his opponents accused his administration of poor governance and mismanagement.
Davido's intervention was unsurprising given his close family connection to the governor. The singer has consistently campaigned publicly for Adeleke, making the Osun election a particularly personal political contest for him.
Reflecting on the outcome, Davido also revealed the emotional support his family provided during the tense election period.
> “With all odds against us, my uncle still won. Even my dad was praying and fasting 7 times a day for my uncle.”
His comments add another dramatic layer to an election that had already attracted significant national attention. Beyond the political rivalry between the major parties, the Osun contest became a broader argument over the future direction of Nigerian elections — particularly the influence of money, political power, social media and alleged attempts to manipulate voters.
For Davido, however, the outcome represented more than a political victory. It was, in his telling, a family victory achieved despite what he described as overwhelming political and financial pressure.
The singer's allegations are likely to generate further debate over the role of political influence, wealthy individuals and social-media personalities in Nigeria's electoral process, particularly as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
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