Hope Uzodimma Responds to Davido’s Osun Election Appeal
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has addressed Afrobeats star David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, regarding the singer’s call for a peaceful governorship election in Osun State. In his response, Uzodimma emphasized that he is not an electorate in Osun.
Davido had appealed to the governor, whom he referred to as his “daddy from Imo State,” to use his influence to promote peace and allow Osun residents to freely choose their preferred candidate in the August 15 poll. The singer said he made the appeal after hearing rumors of possible interference, while noting that he was not presenting those rumors as confirmed facts.
Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma stated that he neither authorized Ambrose Nwogwugwu nor anyone else to reply to Davido on his behalf.
The governor affirmed that Davido remains his son and explained that his involvement in the Osun election stems from his duties as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Chairman of the APC Osun State Governorship Campaign Council.
Uzodimma said his participation aims to mobilise support for the APC’s governorship candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and stressed that he will not be casting a vote in the election.
“Davido remains his son,” the statement read, adding that Uzodimma’s engagement in 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.”
The governor noted that it is normal in a democracy for political leaders to campaign outside their home states in support of party candidates. He also distanced himself from comments attributed to Ambrose Nwogwugwu, who had labelled Davido’s appeal as “emotional blackmail” and urged the singer to direct his message to Osun voters.
Uzodimma insisted that Nwogwugwu’s remarks represented a personal opinion and were not authorized to speak for him or the APC campaign council. He urged Davido, Osun residents, and the public to disregard those comments.
The clarification was deemed necessary after attempts to portray Nwogwugwu’s remarks as Uzodimma’s official response. The governor reiterated the APC’s commitment to peaceful, credible, free and fair elections, stating that encouraging Osun residents to vote for the APC candidate is wholly democratic.
Uzodimma concluded by affirming his respect for Davido and the people of Osun, pledging that his role would remain within the normal bounds of democratic political engagement—supporting his party’s candidate and monitoring the election on behalf of the APC.
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