Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has alleged that soldiers are attempting to prevent him from entering Osun State as voters head to the polls for Saturday’s governorship election.
Davido made the claim in a post on his verified X account early Saturday, saying he had been informed that soldiers were trying to stop him from entering 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,” he wrote.
The allegation comes hours after the Nigeria Police Force announced a restriction of movement across Osun State from midnight on Friday until 6pm on Saturday as part of security arrangements for the election.
Thousands of police officers and other security personnel have been deployed across the state for the poll, which is expected to produce the next governor of Osun.
Davido, who is a nephew of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, has openly supported his uncle’s re-election bid on the platform of the Accord Party.
Adeleke is seeking a second term against Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other candidates in the off-cycle election.
Davido’s allegation generated significant reactions online, with some users linking the reported attempt to stop him to the general restriction of movement announced for election day.
Others, however, questioned whether the singer was being subjected to any restriction beyond the security measures applying to other travellers entering or moving around the state.
Former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad dismissed Davido’s claim as “dramatic”, arguing that the restriction had already been publicly announced as part of the security measures for the election.
The controversy over Davido’s movement came as security agencies tightened controls across Osun ahead of the opening of polling, with the movement restriction scheduled to remain in force until 6pm on Saturday.
(The Sun)