Hon. James Faleke has rejected allegations by Afrobeats star Davido that he attempted to influence the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and manipulate the outcome of the just-concluded Osun State governorship election.
The controversy erupted after Davido took to his 𝕏 account on Saturday during the collation of results in Osogbo, accusing Faleke of allegedly pressuring INEC to alter the results in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Davido, who supported his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, wrote:
“Hon. James Faleke, stop putting pressure on INEC to change Osun election result. Respect the wishes of Osun people. We don’t want Oyetola and AMBO.”
... quickly drew attention, placing Faleke, a prominent APC figure, at the centre of the political drama surrounding the final stages of the election.
Faleke fires back at Davido
Responding on Sunday through his verified 𝕏 account, Faleke dismissed the allegation, insisting that he had neither influenced nor rigged an election and had no intention of doing so.
Rather, the former lawmaker said his presence in Osun was simply to support the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, during the election.
Faleke also took a swipe at Davido, urging the singer to concentrate on his music while political actors focused on the election.
“I have never influenced or rigged before and I don’t plan to start now. Face your music while we face our politics,” Faleke said.
He further pointed out that both men had openly backed opposing candidates in the election.
According to him, while he travelled to Osun to support the APC candidate, Davido backed Governor Adeleke, whom Faleke described as the singer’s uncle.
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“I came to Osun to support my party’s candidate, while you supported your uncle’s party (Accord),” he added.
‘INEC cannot be influenced by me’
Faleke also rejected the suggestion that he had the power to manipulate the electoral commission, arguing that INEC was an independent institution whose decisions could not simply be dictated by an individual politician.
“INEC is a body that can’t be influenced by me or anyone else,” he said.
His response effectively turned the allegation into another flashpoint in an already heated Osun election, with political figures and influential supporters trading accusations as the final results were being collated.
The clash also highlighted the increasingly blurred lines between politics, celebrity influence and social media activism in Nigeria, particularly during closely contested elections.
While Davido used his massive online platform to raise concerns about the conduct of the collation process, Faleke maintained that his involvement was limited to supporting his party’s candidate and denied any attempt to interfere with INEC.
The exchange has added another layer to the political fallout from the Osun election, where the battle for the state’s governorship extended beyond the ballot boxes and into the fiercely contested digital space.