Davido exits Nigerian politics after uncle's Osun re-election

Afrobeats star Davido has declared he will step back from Nigerian politics following the reelection of his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, in the Osun State governorship election. The singer expressed frustration with the criticism he faced during the campaign, stating that the political environment is "evil" and that he no longer wishes to be involved.

The election, held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, saw Governor Adeleke secure a second term by defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress. The State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke the winner on Sunday, August 16, after he polled 511,067 votes. Oyebamiji received 444,815 votes. Adeleke won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji carried 11. The total number of valid votes was 985,079, with 20,721 votes rejected.

Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, was a highly visible supporter throughout the campaign, using his social media platform to rally voters and question electoral authorities. On the eve of the election, he alleged that soldiers were attempting to prevent him from entering Osun State, a claim he posted on his X account on August 15. During the...