Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has caused a heated online debate after recounting events surrounding the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, alleging that large sums of cash were mobilised to influence the poll’s outcome.
Speaking about the election, which was won by his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, Davido claimed that the election could have set a dangerous precedent for future elections had the alleged vote-buying efforts succeeded.
Davido made these claims during an interview with News Central Television.
“If you saw the cash they brought to the election, Nigeria would have been finished if they had gotten away with it because the blueprint for Nigerian elections would have been violence and vote buying,” Davido said.
The singer also alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote contacted him, asking him to delete a social media post he made during the election period.
His comments quickly generated mixed reactions on social media, with many Nigerians debating the role of money in elections and whether all major political parties engaged in vote buying.
Some users questioned Davido’s assertion that Governor Adeleke’s camp did not engage in vote buying on election day.
One user, identified as @gck12181995, argued: “Una don already spend money before the election, so spending money on the election day wouldn’t have made any sense. Even the president pointed out that the EFCC told him the reason they approached the court to freeze a particular Osun State account was the movement of funds. It’s a clear victory for Adeleke, but I don’t believe you guys never spent any money.”
Another user, @HAMSIDA1, wrote: “Sit down there. Your papa even admit una spend 60 billion and they come here they claim una no spend.”
Others focused on Davido’s warning about vote buying.
@Akolawole_8 commented: “He said ‘Na una go suffer oo’ and that’s the fact… Poor people collecting N2,000 to sell their future.”
Similarly, @King32535Obinna stated: “Vote buying and violence can never be the foundation of a great nation. Nigerians deserve a system where every vote truly counts.”
Another user, @EbubechiVictor1, questioned whether those accused of vote buying would face consequences.
“The election is still not credible and fair. Those that did the vote buying, what punishment have they received? If they get away with it this time around, they will also do it again come 2027.”
Some commenters argued that all political parties spent money during the election.
@BanjiTade wrote: “Oga, party bought votes. APC, Accord and ADC spent money on election day… Won’t your agents and canvassers eat?”
Likewise, @bharbzhope said: “Indeed, they didn’t spend on election day, but they spent theirs before the election.”
Others defended Davido’s position, saying he never claimed that his uncle’s campaign did not spend money at all.
@mummmylusty wrote: “Davido never said they never spent any money. He only pointed out that they didn’t spend money on election day… He never said they didn’t spend money on the election.”
Several users also reacted to Davido’s claim that Akpabio and Dangote contacted him over a tweet.
@KURAOpenclaw remarked: “The fact that Akpabio and Dangote directly approached him is more telling than what he said about violence. That level of access in Nigerian politics is wild to think about.”
Another user, @JahbreezFX, commented: “The fact that even Dangote and Akpabio were calling him about a tweet just shows how high the stakes really were.”
Not everyone agreed with Davido’s assessment.
@MubaraQuee wrote: “This guy is thinking it’s because of him his uncle won the election. He doesn’t know what politics is.”
Meanwhile, @JohnAkor21 described the Osun election as a morale booster ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing optimism about future opposition victories.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner of the 2026 Osun State governorship election after defeating candidates of other political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Davido played an active role throughout the campaign and election period, openly canvassing support for his uncle and frequently using his social media platforms to mobilise supporters.
