Davido calls on President Trump to pay attention to Nigeria’s Osun State election

The Nigerian superstar is urging the U.S. president and international community to help ensure voters can cast their ballots without fear or intimidation.

Nigerian superstar Davido is asking President Donald Trump and the international community to pay close attention to the upcoming gubernatorial election in Nigeria’s Osun State, warning of potential violence and disruptions to the democratic process.

The singer, whose real name is David Adeleke, made the appeal Tuesday on X as Osun voters prepare to head to the polls Saturday, Aug. 15. Davido urged U.S. officials and the international community to encourage Nigerian authorities to protect voters and ensure their ballots are respected.

A CALL FOR ATTENTION TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

President Donald Trump, I am calling your attention to the situation in Osun State, Nigeria, as we approach the election.

There are growing concerns about tension and the possibility of violence, intimidation, or disruption of the…— Davido (@davido) August 11, 2026

“We no want bloodshed. We no want intimidation. We want peace, transparency, and a free and fair election,” Davido wrote, directly tagging Trump. Davido’s appeal to Trump is interesting; Trump infamously referred to several Caribbean and African nations as “sh*thole countries,” drawing swift condemnation and criticism from various corners, even within his own cabinet.

According to the BBC’s report, Davido said there were growing concerns about tension and the possibility of violence, intimidation or interference with the election.

The appeal carries particular weight because Davido is the nephew of Osun Gov. Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking reelection. The political stakes surrounding the election have already been heightened by a dispute involving Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC.

The agency previously obtained an order to freeze Osun State government accounts as part of an investigation into what it described as suspicious financial activity. The EFCC said it had observed money moving from the state account into several accounts it considered suspicious.

The move sparked criticism, including from the Nigerian Bar Association, whose president questioned whether the EFCC had the authority to impose a blanket restriction on a state government’s accounts.

Adeleke subsequently sued the EFCC for 2 billion naira.

President Bola Tinubu later directed the EFCC to lift the freeze, saying he was concerned about the timing of the agency’s action so close to the election. Tinubu said the timing could create the perception that the federal government was interfering in the electoral process.

For Davido, the focus now appears to be on what happens when voters cast their ballots.

His message to Trump and the international community is ultimately a plea for a peaceful election in which Osun residents can participate without fear.

“Osun people deserve to exercise their constitutional right to vote freely, peacefully, and without fear,” Davido wrote.

The election is scheduled for Saturday, with the political tensions surrounding it likely to remain under close scrutiny.