A public war of words has erupted between Afrobeats star Davido and activist-politician Omoyele Sowore, after Sowore used a television appearance to sharply criticise Davido’s uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, ahead of the state’s upcoming election.
Speaking live on TV, Sowore, national leader of the African Action Congress (AAC), dismissed Governor Adeleke as lacking intelligence and leadership substance, and described the state capital, Osogbo, as resembling a conflict zone due to poor infrastructure.
Davido responded on social media by calling Sowore an “arindin,” a Yoruba term roughly meaning “imbecile” or fool.
Sowore did not back down. In a pointed reply, he turned the insult back on Adeleke, noting that the governor had gone back to obtain further educational qualifications after already serving as a Nigerian senator, using this to question Adeleke’s competence.
He also criticised Adeleke’s political alignment with the ruling party’s presidential candidate, suggesting it was a calculated move to preserve family influence and access to state resources.
Sowore broadened his critique to Nigerian political elites generally, accusing them of corruption, entitlement, and profiting from public suffering, while predicting that public patience with such leadership would eventually run out.
The exchange quickly became a trending topic, drawing thousands of reactions, sharply split among Davido’s supporters, Sowore’s supporters, and neutral commentators weighing in on Osun’s governance record.
The online response has been fierce and wide-ranging among those siding with Davido and criticising Sowore. Olakunle Dehunde (@dehunde39154) called on the election to be free and fair, while separately dismissing Sowore in harsh, insulting terms.
The Black Scholar (@sola_sam) argued Sowore contests elections he knows he cannot win and questioned why he critiques Osun without relocating his business operations there.
A user posting as @13een_ mocked Sowore’s inability to win even local government elections, and kboyfx (@Kboyfx) argued Sowore’s political career has produced more noise than results, calling his repeated “revolution” predictions a running failed experiment since 2018.
Wasiu Ayomide (@YoungPo001) said he was unfollowing Sowore, accusing him of losing credibility by criticising everyone indiscriminately, while Ibrahim Adeoye (@hibraheem89) described a personally positive experience visiting Osun, calling it peaceful and safe even late at night.
SkyB inc (@CeoSkyB) said Sowore lacks the leadership qualities to hold even a local government position.
On the other side, several commenters backed Sowore and turned their criticism toward Adeleke and Davido.
Akikanju (@Akikanju1568901) pointed to Davido’s reported Eko Atlantic property and his family’s dominance of Osun political offices, including senators and governors, while arguing the state remains underdeveloped, calling Davido’s chairmanship of a sports fund an example of nepotism.
Dr Bak (@drbak_) said it was hard to determine who the real “arindin” was among the parties involved, but suggested Davido’s recent conduct fit the description.
Bayo Slim (@bayo_slim) argued Osun lags far behind global benchmarks and mocked Adeleke’s return to education after a Senate career, while Chuks (@Chubalus16) claimed only one political camp was amplifying Davido’s post, calling it evidence of bias.
A third group of commenters called for balance or accountability rather than picking a side outright. Savvy (@Savvy1083) acknowledged Davido’s right to defend family but argued that large public expenditures, citing a figure over ₦9 billion, deserve scrutiny regardless of family ties.
Rasaq Taoheed (@RasaqTaoheed02) suggested Davido’s repeated defensive posts undermine his uncle rather than help him, framing them as immature, while Bambino (@AdeniyiBambino) urged Sowore to focus his activism on federal-level issues rather than regional family disputes.
Dr Ṣèyí Adéṣínà (@seyiadesina) argued that even Davido understands Adeleke’s endorsement of the ruling party’s presidential candidate as a political calculation, accusing multiple sides of hypocrisy, and KayBee (@KayBee4eva) suggested Adeleke had little choice but to align politically with the centre to avoid worse treatment, referencing tension with a rival figure.
Adewale (@SoEdunOkanESita) redirected criticism toward Sowore’s media outlet, Sahara Reporters, for its role in the 2015 political transition, suggesting selective memory in his current activism, while Kante1260 pushed back on Sowore directly, arguing that residents are satisfied with current governance and timely salary payments despite criticism of the Adeleke family’s influence.
Òmò West (@mWest662895) observed that Sowore, fellow activist VDM, and another commentator, Deji, are frequently at odds with one another, calling the trio broadly divisive, and General Diomedes (@Abum0nyeIgbo) questioned what Sowore’s opposition actually accomplishes politically.
A commenter using the handle “Becareful” argued Sowore tends to cast everyone else as mediocre while ignoring the more recent achievements of activist VDM, and ilesanmi_damola noted Sowore had not directed similar criticism at Alex Otti, another state governor, questioning consistency.
Ben G AFRIKA’S (@porkadofroze) said Davido’s combative approach was unsuited to leading a family, let alone a country or movement, while Mmiri Umuchu (@SonOfMuoghalu) simply asked what the term “arindin” means, reflecting confusion among non-Yoruba-speaking followers about the viral phrase.
The clash unfolds against the backdrop of a closely watched Osun State election, with Governor Adeleke seeking a second term.
Davido, a prominent Osun-born artist, has previously been vocal in defending his uncle’s administration, while Sowore has built a reputation as a persistent critic of Nigerian political figures across party lines, including past criticism of other regional leaders.
