The Nigerian star of Afropop, feted across Africa and the globe as a multi-millionaire singer-songwriter and record producer Davido real name David Adedeji Adeleke has recently been more focused on party politics and getting his uncle Ademola Adeleke, dubbed “the dancing senator” because of his penchant for dancing in public elected as governor of his home state of Osun .
On Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared APC’s Gboyega Oyetola the winner of the Osun State Governorship election in the state.
Oyetola polled a total of 255,505 votes after the collation of the results of the supplementary election in seven polling units across four local governments, while PDP’s Ademola Adeleke polled a total of 255,023 votes to come second.
But at the initial election which held last Saturday, Davido’s uncle scored the highest number of votes, beating Oyetola with 353 votes but INEC declared the election inconclusive and ordered a rerun because the number of cancelled votes in the seven polling units was far higher than the margin by which Adeleke beat Oyetola.
Following this supplementary votes on Thursday, Oyetola overtook and beat Adeleke with a total margin of 482 votes. Reacting to the outcome of the supplementary election, Davido wrote: ‘God knows best ! Best believe he will come thru soon,’ while replying to a Twitter user.
Davido’s intervention was undoubtedly the highlight of a state election that is being seen as test of President Muhammadu Buhari’s popularity in Nigeria’s southwest. The region, which includes Lagos, the country’s megacity of 20 million people, is a key electoral prize for any presidential hopeful and major political parties.
Davido, who has become a common sight on the campaign trail, dedicated his time all through the campain stages to making sure his uncle Ademola Adeleke wins which unfortunately took a different turn after INEC cancealed the first electio. The pop star took star billing at a rally in his hometown of Ede, performing some of his most popular tunes. The 25-year-old artist is currently carrying out his yearlong compulsory national service a far cry from the glitz and glamour of his private jet and a recent Africa tour.
He was pictured singing and dancing for fans on top of PDP vehicles in a field, delighting local party members and a throng of supporters. Billboards in the state also show pictures of the singer in traditional dress, leaning on an empty black leather chair next to the Nigerian flag. “I, Davido, support Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun State,” the roadside advertisements read.
While he may be better known as one of Nigeria’s most successful musical exports, Davido also comes from a well-known political dynasty. His grandfather, Raji Ayoola Adeleke,was a senator between 1979 and 1983 while another uncle, Isiaka Adeleke, was Osun’s first civilian governor from January 1992 to November 1993. The performer’s father, Adedeji Adeleke, is a wealthy businessman with interests in banking, property, education, shipping, haulage and oil and gas.
The last gubernatorial vote in the southwestern state of Ekiti in July led to widespread concerns about vote-buying by leading political parties. The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room coalition of civic groups said its monitors “observed widespread financial inducement and vote-buying in and around several of the polling units”.
The “brazenness” of the practice could undermine democracy, it added. The candidate of Buhari’s APC won the poll. Fear of political violence, which is never far from the surface in Nigeria, has also seen security reinforcements sent into Osun state. Police said 40,000 officers, two helicopters, 30 armoured personnel carriers, 300 patrol vehicles and sniffer dogs have been deployed to ensure the poll is peaceful. Buhari, who is seeking a second term, has promised February’s election will be free, fair and safe.
It would be recalled that in the wake of the Osun State re-run election that saw the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Mr Gboyega Oyetola emerge winner, the presidential media team has invited sensational singer, Davido to perform at the thanksgiving party of the new governor-elect.
Davido who was in active support of his uncle and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Adeleke had expressed his displeasure with the cancellation of the initial polls that took place last weekend with claims that APC planned to rig the governorship election hence the re-run.
The APC group however rubbished OBO’s claim calling him an ‘uninformed political novice’ who is inexperienced to dabble into political issues. Meanwhile, Mr Johannes Tobi, a member of President Buhari’s media team has extended an invitation to the ‘Assurance’ singer via twitter, asking for his willingness to perform at the forthcoming thanksgiving party of the governor-elect.
“Would you be willing to perform for the people of Osun at Oyetola’s thanksgiving party?” he wrote to Davido via the social media app. Whether or not the DMW boss will honour the presidency’s invitation remains unknown.
No comments:
Post a Comment