Osun Election Tension: Lawyer Urges Davido to Apologise to Okpebholo Over WAEC Result Troll

A legal practitioner and author, Timothy Tugbiyele, has called on Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to tender a public apology to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo over a social media post that displayed the governor’s alleged West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result. Tugbiyele made the call in a now-trending video originally uploaded on Facebook on Monday while commenting on the ongoing political exchanges ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election. The controversy has added another layer of tension to an already heated political season, with supporters of both governors trading barbs on social media platforms.

The controversy began when Okpebholo, while campaigning for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, mocked Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke—Davido’s uncle—over his well-known love for dancing. The Edo governor said, “Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast, before he drinks tea, he will dance.” Hours after the governor’s remarks, Davido responded on his verified social media platform by posting what he described as Governor Okpebholo’s WAEC result alongside the governor’s photograph. The document circulating online contained several low grades, including D7 and E8 in some subjects, though its authenticity has not been independently verified, and there has been no official confirmation from WAEC or Governor Okpebholo regarding the certificate. The alleged examination result ignited intense reactions across social media, with many users mocking the governor over the purported grades, while others challenged Davido to also publish Governor Adeleke’s academic credentials if he was genuinely interested in public accountability. One X user, @seguntoogun, wrote: “Davido should post his uncle Ademola Adeleke’s WAEC result too, make we compare.”

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Reacting to the development, Tugbiyele said Davido should not have responded personally to the governor’s remarks, explaining that he watched a video when Governor Okpebholo called the governor of his state, Adeleke, the dancing governor, and the governor’s relation, David Adeleke, replied by publishing the WAEC Secondary School leaving result of Governor Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State. According to the lawyer, although Okpebholo’s alleged result may not have been impressive, it should not have been used to ridicule him, noting that the result is not good enough, but it is possible that the governor did a resit, and they were not aware of that. He maintained that Davido’s publication was inappropriate and crossed a line that should not have been crossed in political discourse. Tugbiyele argued that Governor Adeleke could have responded to his Edo counterpart through official channels instead of allowing Davido to engage him directly, stating that Governor Adeleke would have replied his contemporary governor, or caused one of his workers, maybe a commissioner of information or a special assistant, to reply, not Davido.

The lawyer also stressed that Davido and Okpebholo occupy different positions and should therefore not engage each other on the same level, insisting that David Adeleke and the governor of the state are not in the same social class, not of the same status, and not in the same class. Describing Davido’s post as disrespectful, Tugbiyele appealed to the singer to apologise, saying he thinks what Davido did is disrespectful and he will plead with him to exercise some humility and apologise. He recalled seeing photographs of Davido prostrating before elders, describing him as a well-brought-up Yoruba man who should demonstrate humility and respect for elders, having seen his pictures in time past prostrating, and noting that he is a properly well-brought-up Yoruba boy. Tugbiyele rejected the argument that the exchange should simply be viewed as part of normal political rivalry, stating that he has heard it said by one of the political leaders that everything is fair in politics, but when you are fighting below the belt, when you are insulting, when you disrespect elders, that is not fair in politics. He urged older people and Davido’s elders to caution the singer, adding that political disagreements should not become personal attacks, and emphasised that one does not disrespect elders. He added that Okpebholo should apologise to the governor, noting that he is not saying what Okpebholo did was right to disrespect his uncle, but it should not be an eye for an eye.

The lawyer further argued that poor academic performance at one stage of a person’s life should not be used to define their achievements, drawing from his own experience to illustrate his point. He shared that he had also obtained results that were not good enough but was encouraged by his father, who never called him a dullard and continued to encourage him. He added that Governor Okpebholo had a result that was not good enough but is governor today, and all of that bad result is in the past, concluding that politics does not really have to go to that extent. The controversy comes amid heightened political activity in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with Davido openly supporting Adeleke’s bid for a second term and actively campaigning for his uncle, urging voters to reject violence and intimidation, while also calling on President Bola Tinubu to ensure a free and fair election. The political exchange has also drawn in Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, who predicted Adeleke’s defeat and urged Davido to prepare to sign his uncle as a full-time dancer. Tugbiyele concluded by directly appealing to the singer: “Davido, David Adeleke, please, as a proper Yoruba, please apologise to Governor Okpebholo. God bless you, David. God bless Nigeria.”

Osun Election Tension: Lawyer Urges Davido to Apologise to Okpebholo Over WAEC Result Troll

Osun poll: APC big guns storm Osogbo as police warn against inflammatory rhetoric

OSOGBO: Tension and political activity intensified in Osun State on Wednesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and more than 10 governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) converged on Osogbo for the party’s mega rally, even as the police issued a stern warning against inflammatory comments capable of triggering violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The high-powered APC mobilisation also attracted the attention of Nigerian Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who reacted to the arrival of the party’s heavyweights in the state capital.

Akpabio, Yilwatda and the APC governors were among prominent party leaders who stormed Osogbo to rally support for the party ahead of the keenly contested election.

Their arrival came against the backdrop of heightened political activities and growing concerns over possible tension in the final hours of the campaign.

The concerns prompted the Osun State Police Commissioner for Election, CP Samuel Etaifo, to warn politicians, candidates and their supporters against statements or actions capable of inflaming the political atmosphere.

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Etaifo’s warning followed an invitation extended to the Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, over alleged inciteful comments against members of the Accord Party in Ilesa on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the police commissioner urged political leaders and public office holders to exercise restraint at what he described as a critical period of the electoral process.

“At this critical period of the electoral process, political leaders and public office holders are expected to exercise restraint, promote peace, and refrain from making comments capable of heightening tension or undermining public confidence in the electoral and security arrangements put in place for the forthcoming election,” Etaifo said.

He warned that the police would not tolerate any act, utterance or conduct capable of inciting violence, disrupting public peace or threatening the security of the state.

According to him, the invitation extended to Fadahunsi was intended to obtain clarification on the alleged statement and promote mutual understanding in the interest of peace and security.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police has invited Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi to provide clarification on the statement and to foster mutual understanding in the interest of peace and security,” Ojelabi quoted the CP as saying.

Etaifo stressed that the invitation should not be misconstrued as intimidation, but as part of proactive measures to prevent the escalation of tensions and ensure a peaceful, free, fair and credible election.

He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to neutrality, professionalism and the protection of democratic values throughout the electoral process.

The commissioner called on all political actors, their supporters and residents to remain law-abiding, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and pursue grievances through lawful channels.

The developments come just days before Saturday’s election, with political parties intensifying their final mobilisation efforts and security agencies stepping up measures to prevent violence before, during and after the poll.

Osun poll: APC big guns storm Osogbo as police warn against inflammatory rhetoric

INEC reprints Osun ballot papers, result sheets, includes SDP candidate 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the reproduction of ballot papers and result sheets for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election following the court-ordered inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, in the race.

The Commission, in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the decision followed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026.

The suit was filed by the SDP and Ajala against INEC.

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The court ordered the Commission to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the election.

INEC said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would be distributed the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state in accordance with its established distribution procedure.

The Commission also confirmed that the result sheets were being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the addition of the SDP candidate.

With Ajala’s inclusion, the number of political parties participating in the governorship election has risen to 15.

The election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

INEC assured political parties, candidates and voters that it remained committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election in the state.

The Commission’s latest development comes just two days before the poll, adding a new dimension to the closely watched Osun governorship contest.

INEC reprints Osun ballot papers, result sheets, includes SDP candidate