Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Senator Hope Uzodinma, has said he is not a voter in Osun State, insisting that his involvement in the forthcoming governorship election is limited to supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
The governor also described music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, as “my son” while distancing himself from remarks attributed to Ambrose Nwogwugwu, who criticised the singer over his appeal for a peaceful election.
Davido, a nephew of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, had urged Uzodimma, who also chairs the APC Osun Governorship Campaign Council, to ensure the election is conducted peacefully.
Responding in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodinma said he neither authorised Nwogwugwu nor any other person to speak on his behalf.
The governor said the comments credited to Nwogwugwu were personal opinions and should not be interpreted as his position or that of the APC campaign council.
Reaffirming his relationship with the singer, Uzodinma said, “Davido remains my son. His coming to Osun for the exercise is solely because he is a committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and not one of the voters in the state’s governorship election on Saturday next week or at any other time.”
He stressed that the APC remains committed to a peaceful, free, fair and credible election and would continue to canvass support for its candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
Uzodinma explained that it is normal in a democracy for party leaders to campaign for candidates in states where they are not registered voters.
“It is not new in a democracy in general, and in Nigeria in particular, for party leaders and members to join their candidates and seek support for them during elections, not as electorate from the same area who are expected to cast their ballot,” he said.
The governor urged Davido, Osun residents and the general public to disregard the comments attributed to Nwogwugwu, reiterating that they neither reflected his personal views nor those of the APC governorship campaign council.
He added that the clarification was necessary to prevent the remarks from being misconstrued ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
(The Sun)
