Davido Fires Back at Bashir Ahmad Over Osun Election Prediction, Recalls 16-Vote APC Primary Defeat

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has engaged former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad in a heated exchange on X ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.

The disagreement began after Davido reacted to a telephone conversation between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, the singer’s uncle and a candidate in the forthcoming governorship contest.

Davido said he was present when the conversation took place and described the moment as one that would be remembered.

His post, however, drew a response from Ahmad, who questioned the singer’s confidence about the political developments in Osun State.

How the exchange started

Ahmad responded to Davido’s post by suggesting that the singer could eventually return to X to complain if the August 15 election did not produce the outcome he expected.

The comment quickly turned personal, with Davido shifting the discussion away from the Osun election and toward Ahmad’s previous attempt to secure an elective political position.

Davido reminded the former presidential aide of his performance during the 2022 APC House of Representatives primary in Kano State.

“16 votes” became the central point of the singer’s response.

The political history behind Davido’s 16-vote remark

The figure cited by Davido refers to Ahmad’s unsuccessful bid for the All Progressives Congress ticket for the Gaya/Ajingi/Albasu Federal Constituency in Kano State in May 2022.

Contemporary reports show that Ahmad polled 16 votes, while incumbent lawmaker Abdullahi Gaya secured 109 votes and won the party’s ticket.

Ahmad subsequently rejected the primary result, alleging that the process was not free and fair. He said he had left the venue because of security concerns involving his supporters and alleged the presence of thugs.

That episode has now resurfaced in the latest online confrontation between the two men.

Davido expands criticism beyond the primary election

Davido did not stop at the primary-election result.

In a subsequent response, the singer questioned Ahmad’s record after his years in government, arguing that political influence should ultimately be measured by the impact made on ordinary people.

Davido contrasted Ahmad’s political experience with his own achievements in the global music industry, pointing to international performances, streaming numbers and his influence among young people.

He also accused the former presidential aide of failing to deliver meaningful change in his community during his time in government.

The comments transformed what began as a disagreement over an upcoming election into a broader argument about political achievement, public service and personal success.

Why the Osun election is at the centre of the dispute

The exchange comes at a politically sensitive moment in Osun State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the governorship election for Saturday, August 15, 2026. INEC currently lists the Osun governorship poll among Nigeria’s scheduled upcoming elections.

The commission has also said it is prepared for the election, with the exercise covering 30 local government areas, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units.

Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking another term, while APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji is among the major contenders in the contest. The election has attracted considerable attention because of its significance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Political activity in the state has intensified as the election approaches, with parties increasing mobilisation and campaigning across the state.

Davido’s political involvement

Davido has repeatedly shown interest in Nigerian politics, particularly where his family is directly involved.

His relationship with Governor Adeleke has made his public comments about Osun politics especially significant, although the singer is not a candidate in the election.

His latest exchange with Ahmad therefore illustrates how political debates surrounding the Osun election are extending beyond politicians and traditional campaign structures into Nigeria’s entertainment and social-media space.

What happens next

The immediate focus now shifts back to the August 15 governorship election.

With INEC continuing preparations and political parties intensifying their campaigns, public figures and political actors are expected to remain active online as the poll draws closer.

Whether the Davido-Bashir Ahmad exchange develops into a longer political confrontation remains to be seen. For now, the argument has added another high-profile social-media clash to an increasingly heated Osun election season.

For voters, however, the more consequential issue will be the election itself: turnout, the conduct of the poll, the performance of the candidates and whether the final result reflects the choice of Osun voters.