Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has disclosed that top political and business leaders, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, reached out to him to delete his viral social media updates during the Osun State governorship election.

Speaking during an exclusive interview on News Central TV on Tuesday, the music icon opened up about the intense pressure behind the scenes during the vote-monitoring exercise.

Davido alleged that political opponents deployed massive financial resources, estimating that over ₦110 billion in cash was brought into the state to manipulate the election outcome.

“I just confirmed today. They spent N110 billion. I’m coming from somewhere where we had an insider who was sending us… If you see the cash these people brought in. If they had gotten away with that election, Nigeria is finished. Because the blueprint for election will now be violence and money,” he stated.

Reflecting on his family’s strategy, the singer emphasised that the team relied entirely on public support and voter vigilance rather than financial inducements at polling units.

“We didn’t spend a dime on election day. All we could do was just pray that these people take their money and vote for us,” he said.

“It got to a point where it was the Osun people that were beating the people that were trying to seize ballots. People are tired,” he added.

Addressing the high-profile calls he received as results were being tallied, the musician revealed that he refused appeals to take down his updates on X (formerly Twitter), where he was tracking polling unit results and highlighting delays.

“I heard the Senate President was trying to call the collation centre… They were calling me to delete. I said sorry o. You guys have literally just gone against my uncle… I can’t delete anything. Uncle Aliko called me too. I said, “Uncle, I’m not deleting until the INEC announcement,” he revealed.

Davido maintained that the victory of his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, demonstrates the power of popular support over financial and political influence.

“My uncle should be an example to all other government officials and governors. When you stand by the people, the people will stand by you,” he stated.

Davido’s involvement in Osun State politics stems from his close ties to his family’s political dynasty in the state. His late uncle, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, popularly known as “Serubawon, served as the first civilian governor of Osun State in 1992, while his uncle, Ademola Adeleke, is the current governor. (The PUNCH)