Edo Government Tells Davido to Focus on Music After Trump Appeal Over Osun Election

The Edo State Government has criticised Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, over his appeal to United States President Donald Trump concerning the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, made the remarks on Thursday during a press briefing in Benin City. Afegbua urged the singer to concentrate on his music career and work towards winning another Grammy rather than seeking the intervention of the US president in Nigeria’s electoral affairs.

The commissioner’s comments followed Davido’s recent appeal to President Trump to pay attention to developments in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Davido had expressed concern about the possibility of violence, intimidation and disruptions during the poll. He also called on the United States and the international community to monitor the election and encourage Nigerian authorities to protect voters and ensure that their votes are respected.

Reacting to the appeal, Afegbua dismissed Davido’s intervention as inappropriate and criticised his decision to comment on the political situation in Osun.

The commissioner also defended Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s decision to campaign for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Osun governorship election, arguing that party members and candidates deserved the support of their colleagues.

Afegbua accused Davido of becoming increasingly involved in politics instead of focusing on his music career. He said Nigerians who supported and patronised Davido’s music were not necessarily supporters of the Accord Party, which is associated with the Adeleke political family in Osun State.

The Edo commissioner also disputed an academic result allegedly attributed to Governor Okpebholo that had circulated online, describing it as fake. He claimed that he had seen what he described as the governor’s authentic academic result and used the issue to make a comparison with Davido’s educational record.

Afegbua further argued that governance was a serious responsibility and suggested that voters in Osun should support candidates they considered capable of effectively leading the state. “We need to show solidarity to party members and party candidates. We are happy to see the APC candidate win on Saturday,” he said.

He also described Davido’s appeal to Trump as inappropriate, insisting that Nigeria’s democratic affairs should be handled within the country.

The exchange comes just days before Osun State voters head to the polls to elect their next governor, with political parties intensifying their campaigns and public statements ahead of the election.

Davido’s intervention has attracted attention because of his public profile and his call for international observers to pay close attention to the election. The response from the Edo State Government has now added another layer to the political debate surrounding Saturday’s poll.