Davido Alleges Soldiers Blocked Him From Entering Osun

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has alleged that soldiers were attempting to prevent him from entering Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Davido made the allegation in a post on his verified X account early Saturday, claiming that he had received information that soldiers were trying to stop him from gaining access to the state.

The singer argued that as a Nigerian citizen, he had the right to move freely across the country.

His allegation came only hours after the Nigeria Police Force announced a restriction of movement across Osun as part of security arrangements for the governorship election.

The police said the restriction began at midnight on Friday, August 14, and would remain in effect until 6pm on Saturday, August 15. The measure was announced as part of efforts to prevent violence and ensure the safe conduct of the election.

Thousands of police officers and other security personnel have been deployed across the state, with additional security measures put in place around polling areas and major entry points.

Davido, who is a nephew of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, has openly supported his uncle’s bid for another term in office under the Accord Party.

Adeleke is facing several challengers in the election, including the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Davido’s allegation quickly attracted reactions on social media, with some users linking the reported attempt to restrict his movement to the general movement restriction announced by security agencies for the election.

Others, however, questioned whether the security measures were being applied equally to all individuals, particularly given Davido’s prominent role in the governor’s re-election campaign.

Former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad dismissed the singer’s claim as unnecessary drama, pointing out that the restriction of movement had been publicly announced before election day.

Ahmad argued that the restriction was a standard security measure designed to maintain order during elections and said the right to freedom of movement does not exempt anyone from complying with lawful security directives.

The allegation has added to the growing political tension surrounding the Osun governorship election, which has been preceded by claims of violence, arrests and concerns over the conduct of security agencies.

No independent confirmation had been provided at the time of reporting on whether soldiers specifically attempted to prevent Davido from entering Osun or whether the incident was a direct enforcement of the general movement restriction.