Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has clarified that he did not authorise one Ambrose Nwogwugwu or any other individual to respond to Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, over the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
The Governor made the clarification in a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser (Media), Oguwike Nwachuku, following reactions generated by comments attributed to Nwogwugwu on social media.
According to the statement, Governor Uzodimma also dissociated himself from reports attempting to link him, directly or indirectly, with the political fortunes of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the August 15, 2026, governorship election in the state.
The Governor explained that he never authorised Nwogwugwu to reply to Davido’s appeal, which the singer reportedly made during a media briefing. At the briefing, Davido, who described himself as an Imo State son-in-law, appealed to Uzodimma to use his position as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Chairman of the APC Osun State Governorship Campaign Council to ensure a peaceful election in Osun State.
However, Nwogwugwu reportedly dismissed Davido’s appeal as “emotional blackmail” and advised the singer to direct his appeal to the Osun electorate, who will determine the outcome of the election through their votes.
Distancing himself from the remarks, Governor Uzodimma emphasised that Davido remains “his son” and assured him that there was no reason for concern over his visit to Osun State.
He explained that his presence in the state is strictly in line with his responsibilities as a committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, and Chairman of the APC Osun State Governorship Campaign Council, and not as an eligible voter in the election.
Uzodimma reiterated that the APC has consistently advocated peaceful, free, fair and credible elections across the country. He added that it is both lawful and democratic for the party to campaign for its candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and encourage the people of Osun State to support him at the polls.
The Governor further assured Davido that his respect for him and the people of Osun State remains unwavering, stressing that his mission in the state is solely to mobilise support for the APC candidate and monitor the election on behalf of his party.
He noted that it is a normal democratic practice in Nigeria and other parts of the world for political leaders and party members to campaign for their candidates in elections, even when they are not registered voters in the states where such elections are taking place.
Governor Uzodimma therefore urged Davido, the people of Osun State and the general public to disregard Nwogwugwu’s comments, maintaining that they were purely personal opinions and did not in any way reflect his views or those of the APC Osun State Governorship Campaign Council.
He said the clarification became necessary to prevent mischief makers from twisting Nwogwugwu’s personal comments into the official position of his office or the APC campaign council, urging the public to rely only on statements issued through his authorised channels.
