Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has distanced himself from comments made by his aide, Ambrose Nwogwugwu, regarding Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Key Highlights
- Governor Hope Uzodimma disowns comments made by his aide on Davido’s appeal.
- Says neither he nor the APC campaign council authorised the response.
- Reaffirms commitment to a peaceful, free and credible Osun governorship election.
- Describes Davido as “my son” and urges the public to disregard the aide’s remarks.
Governor Uzodimma said he neither authorised Nwogwugwu nor any other individual to respond to Davido’s appeal for a peaceful election in Osun State.
Davido, who is related to the governor by marriage, had earlier appealed to Uzodimma, in his capacity as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and the APC Osun State Governorship Campaign Council, to use his influence to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
However, Nwogwugwu, in his personal reaction, described the singer’s appeal as “emotional blackmail” and advised him to direct his concerns to the people of Osun State, who would ultimately decide the outcome of the election.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma clarified that the aide’s comments did not reflect his views or those of the APC campaign council.
The governor also reaffirmed his cordial relationship with Davido.
“Davido remains my son,” Uzodimma said, adding that although the singer would be present in Osun during the election, he is not a registered voter in the state.
Uzodimma explained that his own presence in Osun would be in his capacity as a leader and committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he would support the party’s candidate and monitor the electoral process.
He noted that it is a normal democratic practice for party leaders and members to campaign for their candidates, regardless of whether they are registered voters in the state where the election is taking place.
The governor reiterated the APC’s commitment to conducting a peaceful, credible, free and fair election while encouraging Osun voters to support the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
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According to him, canvassing support for a political party’s candidate remains a legitimate part of democratic competition.
“My respect for him and the people of Osun State is not negotiable,” Uzodimma stated.
He urged Davido, the people of Osun State and the general public to disregard Nwogwugwu’s comments, describing them as personal opinions that should not be interpreted as the official position of either the governor or the APC campaign council.
Uzodimma said the clarification became necessary to prevent what he described as “mischief makers” from twisting the aide’s remarks and creating unnecessary political tension ahead of the Osun governorship election.
