Osun Election: Davido’s Father Raises Fresh Questions Over Vote-Buying

A fresh political claim surrounding the Osun governorship contest has added another dramatic chapter to the state’s already colourful electoral history. Davido’s father, Dr Adedeji Adeleke, is reported to have alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) spent as much as N60 billion on vote-buying, while suggesting that his prayers also played a role in helping his younger brother, Governor Ademola Adeleke, secure victory. The claim, if established, would raise serious questions about the financial intensity of electoral contests in Osun.

N60bn Question Puts Vote-Buying Back in the Spotlight

The N60 billion figure should, however, be treated as an allegation rather than an independently established fact. A review of available reporting confirms that vote-buying was a major concern around the 2022 Osun governorship election, with election observers reporting cases involving both major political parties. Yiaga Africa, for instance, reported alleged vote-buying at polling units, including payments reportedly ranging from N2,000 to N5,000 in some locations.

The political atmosphere was so heavily associated with money that contemporary reports described the contest as a battle of financial strength as well as political popularity. There were allegations from both APC and PDP camps, while candidates publicly pledged to reject voter inducement. In the end, INEC declared Ademola Adeleke the winner after he secured 17 of Osun’s 30 local government areas.

When Politics Meets Prayer

Dr Deji Adeleke, Davido’s father and the governor’s elder brother, has long been publicly associated with his Christian faith and has spoken about the importance of prayer. In 2024, he recalled an instance in which he said a Sabbath prayer helped him obtain a government permit that had previously been refused.

So, in the OGM News version of this political drama, the election apparently had everything: money on one side, political machinery everywhere, and prayers entering the final tally without appearing on the ballot paper. Whether the N60 billion allegation can ever be independently substantiated remains a separate question, but the broader issue of vote-buying remains a serious concern for Nigeria’s democracy. With the 2026 Osun governorship election now approaching, the APC has again raised allegations that public funds could be used to influence voters, although those current claims have also not been independently proven.

The controversy therefore leaves Osun voters with a familiar question: when elections become a contest of money, influence and political networks, where exactly does the ordinary voter’s free choice begin and end? OGM News NG will continue to watch the developing political drama and bring readers further updates as new facts, responses and evidence emerge.