Afrobeats star 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 the state’s governorship election on Saturday.
Davido raised the alarm in a post on his verified X account early Saturday, saying he had been “reliably informed” that soldiers were trying to stop him from entering the state.
The singer insisted that he would not be deterred, arguing that Nigerian citizens have a constitutional right to freedom of movement.
His claim comes amid heightened security measures across Osun ahead of the election.
The Nigeria Police Force announced a restriction of movement throughout the state from midnight on Friday, August 14, until 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, as part of arrangements to secure the poll.
The movement restriction is expected to affect vehicular and other forms of movement across the state during the voting period, with security agencies deployed to maintain order and prevent disruptions.
Davido, who is a nephew of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, has been an active supporter of his uncle’s re-election campaign under the Accord Party. Adeleke is seeking a second term against candidates including the All Progressives Congress flagbearer, Bola Oyebamiji, and other contenders.
The singer’s allegation has generated reactions online, with some commentators linking the reported attempt to stop him to the general movement restrictions announced for election day, while others questioned whether he was being specifically targeted.
Former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad dismissed Davido’s complaint as “dramatic,” arguing that the restrictions had been publicly announced by security authorities and were part of standard election security measures.
Ahmad maintained that the right to freedom of movement does not exempt individuals from complying with lawful security measures introduced to protect the electoral process.
As of the latest reports, there has been no independent confirmation that soldiers were specifically ordered to prevent Davido from entering Osun State.
The allegation comes against the backdrop of a tense political atmosphere surrounding the election, with security, voter safety and the conduct of political actors remaining major concerns ahead of the outcome.
Thirteen candidates are contesting the governorship election, although the race has largely centred on incumbent Governor Adeleke, APC candidate Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam.
Davido had earlier called on Nigerian authorities and the international community to pay close attention to the Osun election, citing concerns over possible violence and intimidation.
With voting underway, attention is now focused on whether the election will proceed peacefully and whether the singer’s reported movement difficulties will develop into a wider political or security controversy.
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