Deji Adeleke, father of Afrobeats star Davido, was seen at a polling unit in Osun State on Saturday, August 15, as voting began in the state’s governorship election.
Photos of the businessman, dressed simply and standing without an entourage, were shared online by a user identified as Raji Saheed Adeleke, showing the arrival of “Dr. Deji Adeleke at my polling unit.”
Davido reposted the image on his own page with a single word, “Daddy,” a reply that quickly drew attention from fans and commentators following the election closely.
The election pits Governor Ademola Adeleke, Davido’s uncle, against the All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebanji, a former Osun State Finance Commissioner who has the backing of President Bola Tinubu. Governor Adeleke, who is seeking a second term after his 2022 win under the People’s Democratic Party, cast his vote at Polling Unit 009, Ward 02, Abogunde Compound, in Ede North Local Government Area, at approximately 8:10 a.m.
Deji Adeleke’s appearance drew comment mainly for its restraint. Several social media users noted that he made no public remarks about the contest despite his family’s central role in it, with one user describing him as carrying an unusually calm presence for the day.
The polling unit appearance came a day after Davido headlined “Davido & Friends,” a concert at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on Friday, August 14. The show was part of the venue’s summer festival series and featured Omah Lay, Black Sherif, Mayorkun, Gabzy, Ecool, Fola, and the duo T x C, among other performers. Davido had called it his first festival appearance in the United Kingdom and his only outdoor London show of the summer.
Following the concert, he announced two additional London stadium tour dates for 2027 through his Instagram Story.
The proximity of the London date to the Osun election prompted questions from some Nigerians online about whether Davido would return in time to vote and support his uncle’s campaign. Responding to one such query, the singer said he would arrive in Osun before 7 a.m. after flying in directly from the London performance.
Davido has also said there was an attempt to stop him from entering Osun State ahead of the election, though he did not name those he holds responsible. Separately, activist Omoyele Sowore criticized the singer’s public comments in support of his uncle and raised questions about Governor Adeleke’s academic record, adding to the political back and forth surrounding the family in the run-up to the vote.
