Afrobeats superstar Davido has asserted that he would win any free and fair election in Nigeria, including a presidential contest, but insists he will not seek public office until the country’s electoral system guarantees transparency.
The singer, born David Adeleke, made the remarks during a recent livestream with content creator Carter Efe. When asked if he would consider governing a state, Davido dismissed the prospect in Nigerian Pidgin, citing a lack of faith in the integrity of the process. “Nigeria wey dem dey write result? I no get time for all those ones,” he said, referring to widespread allegations that results are manipulated rather than counted. “Because I no be all those ones wey you go cheat me, I go go sleep for house. I will do something to you if you cheat me.”
He added that he would concentrate on his music career until the electoral environment improves. “Let me just focus on my music until there is transparency then I can go ahead and contest for elective positions. Nobody can beat me in any election, never! In a free and fair election, I can win presidential election in Nigeria.”
The artist pointed to the upcoming Osun State gubernatorial election as a test case for the system’s credibility. “But because of the system, there is no transparency, they write results. I waiting to see what they will do in the upcoming Osun gubernatorial election. We are wailing.”
Davido’s comments underscore a deep-seated distrust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions among high-profile public figures. With a massive youth following and a track record of political engagement — including vocal support for candidates in previous cycles — his stance amplifies ongoing demands for electoral reform. The credibility of the Osun poll, and others scheduled in the near term, will likely influence whether figures of his stature ever transition from cultural influence to formal political participation.
