Osun Election: “Prepare to employ your uncle”

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has reacted after Afrobeats star David “Davido” Adeleke called on an unnamed politician to give room for a free and fair governorship election in Osun State.

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PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Davido, while addressing supporters, as the head of the youth campaign mobilisation team for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, said he had heard rumours that a politician from Imo State planned to interfere in the election.

Although the singer did not name anyone, he alleged that the politician intended to use the forthcoming governorship election as a political battleground to prove a point.

He urged the individual to promote peace instead and allow the people of Osun State to freely choose their preferred candidate.

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Emotional appeal

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, through his Senior Special Assistant on Electronic and Creative Media, Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, Mr Uzodimma urged the “Unavailable” crooner to direct his appeal to the electorate rather than to him.

Mr Uzodimma chairs the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council for the election.

He said: “It is rather pedestrian for Davido to direct such an appeal to the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum simply because his wife is from Imo State. Instead, his appeal should be directed to the people of Osun State, who will ultimately decide the election’s outcome through their votes.

“The #PeoplesGovernor of Imo State, who also serves as the Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council for the Osun State Governorship Election, has consistently preached peace and reaffirmed his commitment to a peaceful, free, and credible election.”

“He failed”

Furthermore, Mr Uzodimma stated that he had consistently maintained that the APC would continue to appeal to the conscience of Osun voters to support and elect the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

He also claimed that voters in the state were prepared to vote out Davido’s uncle over his alleged failure to fulfil his campaign promises.

“The reality is that Governor Ademola Adeleke has, in the opinion of many, failed woefully in the discharge of his responsibilities. This is why many Osun voters are determined to vote him out in the August 15, 2026, governorship election.

“The signals emerging from across Osun State are clear. There is a growing indication that a significant number of voters have rejected the current administration and are prepared to embrace a new direction”, said the governor.

“Be ready to employ him”

Additionally, Mr Uzodimma urged the “Timeless” crooner to channel his energy into supporting Mr Adeleke after his expected defeat in the forthcoming governorship election, rather than making emotional appeals.

He also advised the singer to prepare to sign his uncle as a dancer in his music band, saying he could be out of a political job if he loses the governorship election.

Mr Uzodimma noted, “Rather than attempting to influence Governor Hope Uzodimma through emotional appeals, Davido should concentrate on helping his uncle prepare for life after office, as the people of Osun appear ready to cast their votes massively in favour of the APC candidate.

“Perhaps, Davido should also begin making preparations to officially sign his uncle as a dancer in his musical band, because judging by the mood of the electorate, he may well be out of a political job after the August 15, 2026, governorship election.”

Background

The latest exchange between Davido and Mr Uzodimma followed the freezing of bank accounts linked to the Osun State Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the alleged arrest and detention of Mr Adeleke’s supporters by the police.

This newspaper previously reported that Mr Adeleke’s campaign organisation petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), demanding the unconditional release of the detained supporters.

The group, popularly known as the Imole Campaign Council, which is leading Mr Adeleke’s re-election campaign, submitted the petition at the NHRC headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The council accused the police in Osun State of intimidating the governor’s supporters ahead of the 15 August off-cycle governorship election. It also alleged that security operatives had arrested and unlawfully detained several of the governor’s supporters without justification.

The governorship election is scheduled to take place on 15 August, with Mr Adeleke running under the platform of the Accord Party (AP).