Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Afrobeats superstar Davido has fired a blistering retort at Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, questioning the value of his reported access to President Bola Tinubu and the Presidential Villa, after the governor urged Osun residents to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to gain similar proximity to the federal government. In a pointed post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, August 14, 2026, the singer directly challenged the governor's narrative, declaring: "Your accessibility to the villa brought nothing but insecurity to Kwarans …these so called leaders are watery …"
The exchange began on Thursday, August 13, when AbdulRazaq, speaking at an APC mega rally in Osogbo ahead of Saturday's Osun State governorship election, argued that Osun needed a governor who could access the Presidency and attract benefits to the state. "There is a need to have a governor that can go to Aso Rock and bring goodies to Osun State. You need a governor that has access to the President," the Kwara governor told the crowd. He was among several APC leaders, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who rallied support for the party's candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and urged Osun voters to link the state with the government at the centre.
Davido, whose uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, is seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform, wasted no time in dismantling the governor's logic. His response zeroed in on the security challenges that have plagued parts of Kwara State despite AbdulRazaq's claimed access to the Presidency. Earlier this year, AbdulRazaq met with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa following a deadly attack on the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The singer's retort appeared to reference that incident and the broader insecurity that has persisted in the state, effectively turning the governor's boast of access into a liability rather than an asset.
The exchange comes amid an increasingly heated campaign ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election, with APC and Accord supporters intensifying their mobilisation across the state. Davido has been actively campaigning for his uncle, joining campaign activities and rallying supporters, even boasting that victory is already within reach. He has also warned that he would involve United States President Donald Trump if the election is rigged, underscoring his determination to ensure a credible process.
The singer's intervention highlights a broader debate over the meaning and value of political access in Nigeria's electoral politics. For the APC, proximity to the Presidency is a selling point, a promise of federal patronage and development. For Davido and the opposition, it is an empty boast, belied by the lived reality of insecurity and underdevelopment in states like Kwara, where the governor's access has not translated into safety or prosperity. His description of APC leaders as "watery" is a sharp dismissal of their claims to substance and effectiveness.
The exchange also carries personal and political weight for Davido, who has made no secret of his disdain for the APC's campaign tactics. He previously mocked Bashir Ahmad, a former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, over his performance in an APC primary election, and has repeatedly predicted that the APC would lose in Osun. His latest jab at AbdulRazaq is consistent with his vocal opposition to the ruling party and his efforts to mobilise support for his uncle's re-election bid.
AbdulRazaq, who has served as Kwara governor since 2019, has faced criticism over the security situation in his state, including attacks and kidnappings that have affected communities like Kaiama and Ifelodun. While his administration has deployed forest guards and received a new army battalion to strengthen security, the governor's record on insecurity remains a point of contention. Davido's remark that his access brought "nothing but terrorism to Kwara" taps into that discontent, suggesting that proximity to power has not shielded the state from violence.
The Osun governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, is being closely watched as a bellwether for the 2027 general elections. The contest pits Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party against APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, with other candidates also in the race. The outcome could have significant implications for the political landscape, particularly in the South-West, where the APC has dominated but faces a strong challenge from the Accord Party.
For Davido, the election is personal. His uncle's political future is tied to the outcome, and the singer has thrown his considerable star power behind the campaign. His war of words with AbdulRazaq is not just a celebrity feud but a political statement, an effort to puncture the APC's narrative and mobilise voters against the ruling party. By linking the governor's access to insecurity, Davido is making a direct appeal to voters' sense of safety and wellbeing, arguing that proximity to power has failed to deliver for the people of Kwara and would fail for Osun as well.
The Kwara governor, for his part, has yet to respond to Davido's salvo. But his comments at the APC rally, and the singer's swift rejoinder, have added another layer of drama to an already charged political atmosphere. As Osun prepares for the poll, the debate over access, security, and the meaning of political leadership continues to resonate, with Davido's voice adding a powerful, and provocative, note to the conversation.
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