Davido accuses Uzodinma of plot to rig Osun State election

Afrobeats superstar Davido has raised an alarm over the conduct of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, accusing Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma of attempting to influence the poll through an electoral official he said was brought into the state.

Davido made the allegation in a social media post, where he questioned the presence in Osun of Pauline Ugonyeka, whom he identified as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ebonyi State.

According to the singer, Ugonyeka was not officially deployed to Osun by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but was allegedly brought into the state at the instance of Uzodinma.

“Mrs Pauline Ugonyeka

“Rec Eboyin State.

“She was not deployed by @inecnigeria What is she doing in Osun! She was sent here from Gov hope uzodinma to rig! We will resist you Madame !!” Davido wrote.

Davido’s intervention comes against the backdrop of heightened political tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election, in which Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking a second term. The singer, who is Adeleke’s nephew, has previously vowed to be physically present in the state to resist any attempt to manipulate the election.

What INEC records show

However, an important detail in Davido’s allegation could not be independently established from the latest publicly available INEC information reviewed.

INEC’s current Osun election materials identify Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola as the Resident Electoral Commissioner overseeing the Osun governorship election. Babalola has publicly assured stakeholders that the commission is committed to conducting a free, fair, credible and transparent poll.

INEC has also confirmed that the Osun governorship election will hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The commission’s website lists the poll as its next major election and has published preparations relating to accreditation and election personnel.

The election is taking place amid concerns over political violence and misinformation. Stakeholders, including electoral authorities and civil society groups, have urged political actors, supporters and social-media users to avoid inflammatory or unverified claims that could undermine public confidence in the process.

Uzodinma’s involvement in the Osun contest is not entirely unexpected, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) previously appointed the Imo governor, who is also chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, to lead its National Campaign Council for the election.

Davido’s latest allegation therefore injects another layer of controversy into an already closely watched election. While his accusation against Uzodinma and the claim concerning Ugonyeka remain allegations, INEC’s publicly available information currently identifies Oluwatoyin Babalola—not Pauline Ugonyeka—as the REC for Osun.