Senator Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State, has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, over the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, declaring that he is not a voter in the state and has no direct role in deciding the outcome of the poll.
The clarification comes after Davido appealed to Uzodimma, who serves as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Osun State Governorship Campaign Council, to use his influence to ensure a peaceful, free and credible election ahead of the August 15 governorship contest.
Responding to the growing public debate, Uzodimma, through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, distanced himself from comments attributed to Ambrose Nwogwugwu regarding Davido’s appeal. The governor stressed that Nwogwugwu was neither authorised to speak on his behalf nor to issue any response in relation to the matter.
Uzodimma said the comments reflected personal opinions and should not be interpreted as his position or that of the APC campaign council.
The governor also sought to clear the air over his relationship with Davido, describing the award-winning singer as “his son” and insisting that there was no personal disagreement between them. He said political differences should never be mistaken for personal hostility.
According to Uzodimma, his involvement in Osun is strictly political, as he is leading the APC’s campaign efforts in support of the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji. He noted that participating in campaign activities does not make him a voter in Osun State or give him the power to determine the outcome of the election.
He explained that it is common in democratic societies for political leaders to travel across different states to campaign for their party’s candidates. Such activities, he said, are aimed at persuading voters rather than influencing the electoral process through unlawful means.
Uzodimma reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to peaceful, transparent and credible elections, saying the party believes the will of the people should always prevail at the ballot box. He added that the party would continue to campaign within the limits of the law while encouraging voters to make their choices freely.
The governor further appealed to the people of Osun State to remain peaceful before, during and after the election. He urged political supporters across party lines to conduct themselves responsibly and avoid actions capable of disrupting public order.
He also called on the public to ignore statements from individuals who are not officially authorised to speak for him, saying misinformation could create unnecessary tension during an important democratic exercise.
Uzodimma maintained that he respects Davido and the people of Osun State and remains focused on promoting peaceful political participation. He insisted that his role is limited to supporting his party’s candidate through legitimate campaign activities and not interfering with the voting process.
As political campaigns intensify ahead of the governorship election, the governor expressed confidence that the election would be conducted peacefully and urged all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, security agencies and voters, to play their part in protecting the integrity of the democratic process.
His clarification is expected to ease tensions generated by the public exchange and reinforce the message that while political leaders may campaign across state boundaries, the final decision on who governs Osun State rests solely with the electorate.
