Uzodimma to Davido: I’m Not an Osun Voter

OWERRI – Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has clarified that he is not a voter in Osun State and has no direct role in determining the outcome of the state’s governorship election.

Uzodimma made the clarification while distancing himself from a statement attributed to Ambrose Nwogwugwu, who described as “emotional blackmail” an appeal by music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, urging the governor to use his influence to promote peace during the election.

Davido, who is a nephew of Osun State Governor and candidate of the Accord Party in the August 15, 2026 governorship election, Ademola Adeleke, had appealed to Uzodimma as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Osun State Governorship Campaign Council.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma said he neither authorised Nwogwugwu nor anyone else to respond to Davido’s comments.

The governor described Davido as “his son” and said the musician’s presence in Osun during the election was because of his commitment to the APC and not because he was an eligible voter in the state.

“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,” Uzodimma said.

He maintained that the APC had always supported peaceful, credible, free and fair elections, adding that the party would continue to seek the support of Osun voters for its candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

Uzodimma said supporting a political candidate during an election was part of democratic practice and not an indication that party leaders or campaign officials were voters in the areas where elections were being conducted.

“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 assured Davido of his continued respect for him and the people of Osun State, stressing that his role in the election was to support the APC candidate and promote a peaceful electoral process.

He urged Davido, Osun residents and the general public to disregard Nwogwugwu’s comments, describing them as personal opinions that did not represent his views or those of the APC campaign council.

Uzodimma said the clarification became necessary to prevent the misinterpretation of the remarks attributed to Nwogwugwu.