Bashir Ahmad, the National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response for the City Boy Movement, has categorically denied widespread claims that he secured only 16 votes during the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the House of Representatives.
The controversy reignited this week after Afrobeat superstar David Adeleke, professionally known as Davido, asserted in a viral social media post that the APC chieftain had tallied a mere 16 votes in the contest. The claim quickly gained traction online, prompting Ahmad to issue a detailed rebuttal on his official X handle.
In his statement, Ahmad insisted that no credible primary election was conducted in the first place. “The reality is that there was no credible primary election in the first place,” he wrote. “If there had been, I am very confident I would have been the winner.”
Ahmad alleged that the process was compromised, citing the existence of verifiable evidence, including video recordings and other materials, which he says substantiate his claim of rigging. He described the figures being circulated by Davido, his supporters, and other parties as “misleading” and said they do not reflect a transparent, legitimate, or credible exercise.
The former presidential aide urged the singer and his followers to desist from spreading the narrative, adding that “the full story will be told at the appropriate time.”
The exchange has amplified public scrutiny of internal party democracy within Nigeria’s ruling party and underscored the growing intersection of celebrity influence and political discourse in the digital space. Ahmad’s promise to release supporting evidence sets the stage for a potential further escalation of the matter.
