Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has ignited a fresh political firestorm on the morning of the Osun State governorship election, alleging that soldiers are attempting to prevent him from entering the state to participate in the electoral process. The singer, who is a nephew of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, made the claim in a post on his verified X account early on Saturday, August 15, 2026, just hours before polling stations were set to open across the state.
"I've been reliably informed that soldiers are trying to prevent me from entering Osun tomorrow, this won't happen, every citizen of Nigeria has the right to movement at any point of time," Davido wrote, according to multiple reports . The singer did not disclose who gave him the information or identify the soldiers allegedly involved, nor did he state the route through which he planned to enter the state or explain whether security personnel had contacted him directly .
Davido's allegation came amid tight security measures introduced for the governorship election, which is expected to be a fiercely contested race between his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji . The Nigeria Police Force had announced a restriction of movement across Osun from midnight on Friday, August 14, until 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, as part of security arrangements to protect voters, election officials and electoral materials . The security plan also included the deployment of more than 15,000 police personnel across the state's 30 local government areas, with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police assigned to coordinate the operation, while one Commissioner of Police was deployed to each local government area. Police helicopters and drones were also sent to Osun for aerial surveillance . The Force Public Relations Officer had further disclosed that soldiers would seal roads leading into the state from midnight as part of measures to control movement .
Davido's post quickly attracted attention on social media, generating a flood of reactions. While some users expressed concern that the singer could be facing a targeted restriction, others argued that security checks were expected because of the election-day lockdown . Reacting to Davido's claim, former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad accused the singer of creating unnecessary drama around a restriction that applied to members of the public. "You are just dramatic, @davido. It has been widely announced by the security operators that movement in and around Osun will be restricted from 12 midnight today until 6 pm today due to the election and this is a standard security measure during elections anywhere not peculiar to Osun," Ahmad wrote. "So the right to freedom of movement does not mean ignoring lawful security measures put in place to ensure a peaceful and credible election" .
Other social media users also questioned Davido's position. One X user, @OgbeniDipo, pointed out that security agents were enforcing the curfew at several locations, including Ikire Junction, Gbongan bypass, Odeomu, up to Akoda and Owode Ede, and advised the singer to remain in Lagos . Another user, @Mz_Tosyn, questioned whether Davido and his audience were unaware of the curfew or pretending not to know .
Davido has been one of the most visible supporters of his uncle's re-election bid, and his involvement in Osun politics dates back to the 2022 governorship election when he campaigned for Adeleke and mobilised young voters across the state . Earlier in the week, the singer called on United States President Donald Trump and the international community to monitor the poll, expressing concern over reported cases of violence, intimidation and attempts to disrupt the election . He later defended the appeal after some Nigerians questioned why he referred to Trump as his president, explaining that he holds both Nigerian and American citizenship .
As of the latest reports, there has been no independent confirmation that soldiers were specifically ordered to prevent Davido from entering Osun State . The allegation comes against the backdrop of a tense political atmosphere surrounding the election, with security, voter safety and the conduct of political actors remaining major concerns . With voting underway, attention is now focused on whether the election will proceed peacefully and whether the singer's reported movement difficulties will develop into a wider political or security controversy .
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