Davido Claims Soldiers Blocking Entry to Osun for Election

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, has alleged that soldiers are attempting to block his entry into Osun State as the state conducts its governorship election on Saturday. The singer, who is a nephew of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, made the claim in a post on his verified X account early on the election day. Davido said he had been reliably informed that security personnel were trying to prevent him from entering the state, asserting that every Nigerian citizen has the right to freedom of movement at any time.

The allegation comes amid a comprehensive movement restriction imposed across Osun State by security agencies as part of arrangements for the election. The Nigeria Police Force announced that movement would be restricted from 12:00 midnight on Friday, August 14, until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15. The measure, which involves the deployment of thousands of security personnel, is intended to ensure a peaceful and orderly voting process.

Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking a second term on the platform of the Accord Party, facing challengers including the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. Davido has been actively involved in his uncle’s campaign.

The singer’s post prompted immediate reactions on social media. Several users pointed out that the movement restrictions had been publicly announced well in advance and applied to all residents. One user, @OgbeniDipo, noted that security agents were enforcing the curfew at multiple locations including Ikire Junction, Gbongan bypass, Odeomu, Akoda, and Owode Ede, and advised Davido to remain in Lagos. Another user, @Mz_Tosyn, suggested that Davido and his audience were either unaware of the election-day curfew or were choosing to ignore it.

Former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad described the claim as dramatic, stating that the restriction was a standard security measure during Elections and not unique to Osun. He emphasized that the right to freedom of movement does not override lawful security directives put in place to guarantee a credible election, and that citizens are expected to comply with such measures.

The situation highlights the tension between individual rights and election security protocols, a recurring theme in Nigerian electoral processes. As voting proceeds, the focus remains on the conduct of the election and the response of security agencies to any incidents involving high-profile individuals. The outcome of the governorship contest is expected to be announced once collation is completed.