Nigerian music sensation, Davido, has vehemently refuted claims made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, regarding his supposed pivotal role in the recent Osun State governorship election. The artist’s strong stance comes in response to Israel’s analysis, which attributed significant youth mobilization during the election to Davido’s influence.
The APC Youth Leader’s Initial Assessment
Following the declaration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the August 15 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dayo Israel took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his observations. He urged his party, the APC, to critically examine and learn from the opposition’s campaign strategies, particularly their engagement with the youth.
Israel highlighted Davido’s strategic placement at the core of the youth mobilization efforts, commending how the musician leveraged his extensive influence, networks, music, digital reach, and personal credibility to forge a connection between the campaign and a younger generation. He stated, “He brought artistes, influencers and young voices into the process. Alongside emerging political and professional actors such as Pelumi Olajengbesi, he helped give the campaign a youthful, energetic and culturally resonant face.”
The APC youth leader further contrasted this with his own party’s approach, noting that the APC primarily relied on a structure dominated by governors, senators, and former office holders. He posed crucial questions to his party: “How many young Nigerians do they genuinely inspire, mobilise or emotionally connect with? Who are the young men and women within our movement who are willing to put their influence, creativity, reputation and networks visibly on the line for the party? And when we find them, do we empower them, or only remember them at election time?”
Davido’s Swift Rejection
However, in a sharp and direct rebuttal shared on X early Monday morning, Davido publicly slammed the APC youth leader’s narrative. The internationally acclaimed artist emphatically rejected the notion that he, or the team he rallied, were the primary architects behind the campaign’s success. Davido firmly distanced himself from Israel’s political analysis, asserting that the claims did not accurately reflect the fundamental forces that drove the election outcome.
