Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that he came under pressure from Senate President Godswill Akpabio and billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote to delete a social media post he made during the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.
Davido made the disclosure on Tuesday while speaking at a press conference following the victory of his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, in the August 15 governorship election. The singer said both Akpabio and Dangote contacted him over his posts questioning aspects of the electoral process but that he refused to take them down.
According to Davido, the incident occurred amid heightened political tension during the election, when he used his large social media following to raise concerns about developments surrounding the poll.
His revelation has added another layer to the political controversy that surrounded the election, which attracted considerable national attention and featured a closely fought contest between Adeleke of the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Adeleke ultimately emerged victorious with 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes, according to the final results. The governor secured a second term after winning 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
Davido, who is one of Nigeria’s most internationally recognised musicians, had openly supported his uncle during the election and was vocal on social media about issues surrounding the poll. His intervention attracted widespread attention because of his enormous following both within Nigeria and internationally.
The singer’s decision to retain the disputed post despite the reported requests from prominent individuals has also reignited discussion about the role of celebrities and public figures in Nigeria’s political process.
While some have argued that celebrities should use their platforms to promote accountability and transparency, others have questioned whether individuals with close family connections to political candidates can be regarded as impartial commentators during elections.
Governor Adeleke, meanwhile, dismissed speculation that his victory was based on any pre-election political arrangement with the African Democratic Congress.
Addressing the issue after the election, the governor said there was no agreement with the ADC before the poll and attributed his victory to God and the electorate.
The governor’s clarification came amid political speculation over possible alliances and behind-the-scenes arrangements involving opposition forces ahead of the election.
The APC has yet to concede defeat, with the party reviewing the results and the circumstances surrounding the election.
The party’s position means that although Adeleke has been declared the winner, political and legal scrutiny of the election could continue as stakeholders assess the results.
The election was closely watched because of its potential implications for Nigeria’s broader political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. Osun has traditionally been regarded as an important battleground, and the contest provided an early indication of how political alliances and voter preferences could evolve ahead of the national polls.
Davido’s disclosure about the alleged pressure to delete his post has therefore become part of the wider conversation surrounding the election, particularly concerning freedom of expression, political influence and the role of powerful individuals in Nigeria’s electoral affairs.
For the singer, however, the episode appears to have reinforced his decision to use his platform to speak on issues he considers important, regardless of the political figures involved.
The development also underscores the growing influence of social media in Nigerian elections, where statements made by celebrities, politicians and ordinary citizens can quickly become national talking points and shape public perception of electoral events.
