Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has said he will seek the attention of United States President Donald Trump if he believes the forthcoming Osun State governorship election is not free and fair.
The award-winning singer made the statement during a livestream hosted by comedian and content creator Carter Efe, where he spoke about his political ambitions, Nigeria’s electoral system and the upcoming election in his home state.
Davido said he had the popularity and public support to succeed in politics but would only consider seeking elective office when elections in Nigeria were conducted transparently and credibly.
He expressed concern about what he described as a lack of transparency in the country’s electoral process, claiming that election results could be manipulated.
“Until there’s transparency, then I can go ahead with politics because nobody can beat me in any election. If there’s a free and fair election, let everybody come out to vote, I will win. But because of the system, there’s no transparency; they write the results,” he said.
The singer then turned his attention to the forthcoming Osun governorship election, saying he was watching developments closely and waiting to see how the poll would be conducted.
“I want to see what they are going to do in Osun. We are waiting,” Davido said.
He warned that he would not remain silent if he believed the election had been manipulated.
According to him, he would use his international platform and public influence to draw attention to any alleged irregularities, including by calling on President Trump and other influential figures.
“I’ll tag Trump, I’ll call Trump, everybody. If they still don’t see anything, I’ll go in front of the White House and say, ‘Help us.’ They think it’s a joke,” he said.
Davido added jokingly that he expected Trump to acknowledge his appeal.
“Trump will just say, ‘I think there’s a Nigerian artiste sending me a message. Don’t worry, my message will be delivered,’” he said.
He ended his remarks with a direct appeal over the conduct of the election in Osun State.
“Leave Osun alone oo, Leave it,” he said.
Davido’s comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the Osun State governorship election, with candidates and political parties preparing for what is expected to be a closely watched contest.
Osun is also politically significant to Davido because the singer’s family has strong roots in the state. His uncle, Ademola Adeleke, is the incumbent governor of Osun State and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The relationship has made Davido’s interest in the state’s politics a subject of public attention over the years.
Governor Adeleke won the 2022 Osun governorship election, defeating the then incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress.
The election was later challenged in court, with the dispute eventually reaching the Supreme Court. The apex court upheld Adeleke’s victory in July 2023, bringing an end to the legal battle over the result.
The 2026 governorship election is therefore expected to attract significant political interest, particularly because of the rivalry between the major political parties in the state.
The credibility of elections remains a major issue in Nigeria, with political parties and civil society groups regularly calling for improvements in the electoral process.
Concerns have often centred on vote buying, violence, manipulation of results, poor deployment of election technology and the independence of electoral institutions.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has in recent elections introduced measures aimed at improving the voting process and reducing electoral malpractice. These include the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and electronic transmission of results.
However, political parties and other stakeholders have continued to raise concerns about the implementation of electoral reforms and the conduct of elections in different parts of the country.
Davido’s remarks have added a celebrity voice to the debate over the credibility of the Osun poll.
The singer has previously shown interest in Nigerian politics and has been vocal on issues affecting young people and governance.
Although he has not formally declared his intention to contest any political office, he said during the livestream that he believed he could succeed if the electoral system allowed voters to freely choose their leaders.
His argument was that popularity and public support could translate into electoral victory if elections were properly conducted.
The singer, however, expressed distrust in the system, suggesting that the possibility of manipulated results could discourage people from participating in politics.
His comments also reflect a wider concern among young Nigerians about the credibility of elections and the ability of voters to determine political outcomes through their votes.
Nigeria has a large youth population, and young people have increasingly used social media and other digital platforms to participate in political debates.
The entertainment industry has also become more involved in political discussions, with musicians, actors and other public figures using their large followings to comment on governance and elections.
Davido is one of Nigeria’s most internationally recognised musicians and has millions of followers across social media platforms. His comments on political issues therefore often attract significant public attention.
His latest remarks are likely to generate further discussion as the Osun election approaches, particularly his threat to take any alleged electoral wrongdoing to the international stage.
However, the conduct of elections in Nigeria is primarily the responsibility of the country’s electoral and legal institutions. INEC is responsible for organising elections, while disputes over results are handled through the established judicial process.
Calls for foreign intervention in domestic elections have also traditionally been sensitive because of concerns about Nigeria’s sovereignty and the need for national institutions to handle electoral disputes.
Davido’s comments appeared to be more of a warning that he would use his international visibility to draw attention to any alleged irregularities rather than a formal request for foreign intervention.
For now, the singer has made it clear that he is watching the developments in Osun and expects the election to be conducted in a way that allows voters to freely choose their leaders.
His comments also suggest that his political ambitions remain tied to his belief that Nigeria’s electoral system must become more transparent.
Davido has not announced plans to contest any political office in the immediate future. Instead, he said he would continue to observe the political process before making any decision about entering politics.
With the Osun governorship election approaching, attention will now focus on the campaigns, preparations by INEC, security arrangements and the ability of the relevant authorities to ensure a peaceful and credible poll.
For Davido, however, the message is simple: the people of Osun should be allowed to vote freely and have their votes count.
“Leave Osun alone oo, Leave it,” the singer said.