Afrobeats star Davido, born David Adeleke, has publicly appealed to United States President Donald Trump and the international community to closely monitor Nigeria's upcoming Osun State governorship election, citing concerns about possible violence and voter intimidation ahead of the August 15 vote.
In a statement posted to his official X account, Davido addressed Trump directly, asking that voters be protected and that the process remain credible. He said Osun residents deserve to vote "freely, peacefully, and without fear," adding that he wants "peace, transparency, and a free and fair election" rather than bloodshed or intimidation.
The appeal comes with a personal stake attached: Davido's uncle, incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, is seeking re-election on the Accord Party ticket, and the singer has been actively involved in youth campaign mobilisation on his behalf.
Davido had earlier signalled the move during a livestream with content creator Carter Efe, saying he would seek Trump's intervention and take his concerns to the White House if the election were manipulated.
Reaction online has been mixed. Some supported his call for international attention, while others questioned why a foreign head of state's involvement was being sought in a domestic Nigerian election. Responding to one such challenge, Davido noted that he holds dual citizenship.
The governorship election itself is a closely watched contest. Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking a second term on the Accord Party platform, facing challengers from the APC and PDP in a race that has drawn national attention in part because of his nephew's high profile. Osun has a history of tightly contested and occasionally disputed state elections, which has fed some of the anxiety around this year's vote.
Civil society and election-monitoring groups in Nigeria have separately called for a heavier security presence around polling units in the state ahead of August 15, citing isolated incidents of unrest in past cycles. As of publication, there has been no public response from the Trump administration or the U.S. State Department to Davido's appeal.
The Trump appeal wasn't Davido's only intervention in the race. Days earlier, he had also appealed directly to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma — chairman of the APC's Osun campaign council — urging him not to interfere in the election. An aide to Uzodimma dismissed that appeal as "emotional blackmail," a remark the governor later distanced himself from, saying he had not authorised the response. Uzodimma said he would still attend campaign events in Osun in support of the APC candidate, adding, "Davido remains my son," but that his presence there would not make him an eligible voter in the state.
The Trump post itself drew a mixed reaction online, with some users mocking Davido for appealing to a foreign head of state over a Nigerian election. When one asked, "Is everything okay, David?", Davido shot back, "So I can't tweet my president again?" — a reference to his dual Nigerian and American citizenship; he was born in Atlanta before being raised in Lagos.
Adeleke faces a crowded field in the August 15 vote, including the APC's Bola Oyebamiji and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, in what's widely regarded as one of the most closely watched state elections of the year.