Afrobeats star Davido has not addressed a claim from social media activist Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, that their friendship ended over a rejected ₦50 million offer.
Instead, on Monday, July 20, 2026, Davido posted a video of a man dancing to his new song, “Gimme Dat Thing,” featuring No11.
The post came shortly after VDM’s claim began circulating widely, and many fans read the timing as a quiet response rather than a coincidence.
VDM had explained in a video posted on Sunday, July 19, that the fallout followed an alleged offer from Davido’s team to pay him for campaigning on behalf of the singer’s uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke. He said he turned the money down, recalling simply, “I bounce am.” Davido was visible online over the same weekend, though on unrelated matters.

Public reaction has focused less on Davido’s silence and more on what it might mean. Several accused bloggers of cutting the clip out of context to “cause traffic” and calling people who think it’s currently unwise.
Some X users suggested VDM performs principled rejection of money as a way to build a “God-sent” image, while quietly still benefiting in other ways. Another X user made a similar point more bluntly, saying VDM doesn’t need to “victimize people” to prove he has integrity.
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Others firmly back him. One fan called him exactly what Nigeria needs for being straightforward, and another said VDM isn’t perfect but is “80% better than others.”
A large portion of the thread didn’t see anything scandalous in the original offer, arguing that there’s nothing wrong with paying someone to campaign for a politician, and others called it standard politics, adding that Governor Adeleke has performed well enough in office to deserve support.
A few comments were sharply critical of Davido, referencing his past association with Portable and suggesting a pattern of falling out with people he’s supported.
A few also joked that Davido’s silence, paired with his recent closeness to Burna Boy, said more than any direct reply could.
For now, Davido has offered no direct comment, and the public conversation continues to fill the space he has left open.

