Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has raised concerns over the presence of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ebonyi State, Pauline Ugoyenka, in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Davido questioned why the Ebonyi REC was in Osun despite not being the commissioner assigned to oversee electoral activities in the state. He made the remarks in a post on his verified X account on Thursday, August 13.
According to reports, Ugoyenka arrived in Osun ahead of the election, drawing attention because of her official position in Ebonyi State.
In his reaction, Davido alleged that the commissioner was not deployed to Osun by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He further accused her of being sent to the state to influence the election, calling on voters and stakeholders to resist any attempt to manipulate the process.
The musician’s comments have added to growing public attention surrounding preparations for the Osun governorship election, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The election is expected to be closely contested, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking re-election against candidates representing several political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Davido’s intervention is particularly significant because of his close family relationship with Governor Adeleke. The singer has openly supported his uncle in previous political campaigns and has remained vocal on political developments in Osun State.
However, the allegation concerning the Ebonyi REC had not been independently established at the time of publication. INEC had also not publicly explained the reason for Ugoyenka’s reported presence in Osun or whether she had been assigned any official responsibility in connection with the election.
The development comes as electoral authorities and security agencies intensify preparations for the poll. Millions of registered voters are expected to participate, while security personnel have been deployed across the state to maintain order before, during and after voting.
The presence and activities of electoral officials are expected to attract particular scrutiny as political parties compete for control of one of Nigeria’s strategically important southwestern states.
With the election only days away, calls for transparency, neutrality and strict adherence to electoral regulations are likely to remain central to public discussions.
For many observers, the controversy highlights the importance of clear communication from electoral authorities whenever officials are deployed outside their regular jurisdictions. Any explanation from INEC regarding the Ebonyi REC’s presence in Osun could help address concerns and prevent speculation ahead of the vote.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots, attention will now turn to INEC’s conduct of the election, the neutrality of electoral officials and the ability of security agencies to provide a peaceful environment for citizens to exercise their democratic rights.The Osun election is therefore shaping up as a major test of Nigeria’s electoral process, with local and international observers watching closely for a credible, transparent and peaceful outcome.
