I’m Not An Osun Voter — Uzodinma Moves To Defuse Davido Showdown Ahead Of Poll

• Hope Uzodinma distances himself from controversial remarks against Afrobeats star Davido, insisting the singer remains “my son” and was never a target of his campaign.

• Imo governor declares he is not an Osun voter, saying his only assignment is to lead the APC governorship campaign and canvass support for the party’s candidate.

• Governor disowns comments made by his media aide, Ambrose Nwogwugwu, describing them as personal opinions that neither reflect his views nor those of the APC campaign council.

• Clarification comes amid rising political tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election, as APC renews commitment to a peaceful, free and credible poll.

August 07, () — Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Senator Hope Uzodinma, has sought to calm the growing political storm surrounding the August 15 Osun State governorship election, declaring that he is not a voter in the state and has no role beyond canvassing support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The clarification follows a public exchange involving Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, whose call for a peaceful election drew criticism from Ambrose Nwogwugwu, a media aide to the Imo governor.

Davido, who is the nephew of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had urged Uzodinma, the chairman of the APC Osun Governorship Campaign Council, to ensure that the governorship election is peaceful, free and devoid of violence.

However, comments credited to Nwogwugwu sparked fresh political controversy after he criticised the singer and suggested that Davido should prepare to sign his uncle into his music label if Governor Adeleke lost his re-election bid.

“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.

“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”, the statement credited to Nwogwugwu read.

Responding on Friday through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodinma firmly distanced himself from the comments.

The governor said he neither authorised Nwogwugwu nor any other individual to speak on his behalf regarding Davido or the Osun election.
According to him, the remarks represented the personal opinions of their author and should not be interpreted as either his position or that of the APC Osun Governorship Campaign Council.

Uzodinma stressed that he remains focused on mobilising support for the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, while respecting the democratic rights of Osun voters to determine their political future.

‘Davido Remains My Son’

In what appears to be an effort to lower the political temperature, the Imo governor reaffirmed his cordial relationship with the award-winning singer.

“Davido remains my son. His coming to Osun for the exercise is solely because he is a committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and not one of the voters in the state’s governorship election on Saturday next week or at any other time”, Uzodinma stated.

The governor’s remarks mark a notable departure from the earlier criticism directed at the singer and underscore efforts by the APC campaign leadership to avoid further escalation of political tensions ahead of the poll.

‘I’m Not An Osun Voter’

Uzodinma maintained that his presence in Osun was strictly in his capacity as chairman of the APC campaign council and not as an elector.
He noted that it is a long-established democratic tradition for party leaders to campaign for candidates in states where they are not registered voters.

“It is not new in a democracy in general, and in Nigeria in particular, for party leaders and members to join their candidates and seek support for them during elections, not as electorate from the same area who are expected to cast their ballot”, he said.

The governor insisted that the APC remained committed to a peaceful, free, fair and credible governorship election and urged all political actors to conduct themselves responsibly.

Appeal For Calm Ahead Of August 15 Poll

Uzodinma called on Davido, residents of Osun State and the wider public to disregard the controversial remarks attributed to Nwogwugwu, reiterating that they neither reflected his personal views nor those of the APC governorship campaign council.

He explained that the clarification became necessary to prevent unnecessary misunderstanding and political tension in the final days leading to the governorship election.