Osun Poll: Adeleke Won, But Davido’s Role Raises a Bigger Question for 2027 -

The victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the 2026 Osun State governorship election has once again brought the intersection of entertainment and politics into sharp focus.

Adeleke was declared winner of Saturday’s election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), securing 511,067 votes against his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.

But beyond the numbers and political calculations surrounding the election, one figure stood out throughout the campaign: Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

For Davido, this was not merely a case of publicly declaring support for a relative. He was appointed Head of Youth Mobilisation for Adeleke’s re-election campaign and became one of the most recognisable faces associated with the campaign.

His involvement raises an important question ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election:
What can other Nigerian celebrities learn from Davido’s approach to political participation?

Davido went beyond an ordinary endorsement
Celebrities frequently endorse politicians during election seasons.

They post photographs with candidates, attend rallies and ask their followers to support particular political parties.

Davido’s involvement in the Osun election, however, was more visible and structured.

As Head of Youth Mobilisation, he participated in activities aimed at engaging young people.

He also used his enormous social-media following to communicate about the election and publicly encouraged voters to participate.

In the days leading up to the election, Davido spoke to young people about not being intimidated by political tensions. He also called for a peaceful and credible election and urged that voters be allowed to exercise their rights freely.

That distinction is important.
There is a difference between celebrity endorsement and celebrity mobilisation.
An endorsement can create attention.

Mobilisation attempts to turn that attention into participation. He brought politics into spaces where young people already are.

One of the biggest advantages celebrities possess is access.

A politician may hold a rally and attract thousands of people, but a major entertainer can reach millions through Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube and other platforms within minutes.

Davido’s political involvement demonstrated how entertainment platforms can become channels for political communication.

His posts about the election were widely reported, while his presence at campaign events generated additional attention. During the counting of votes, he continued to comment on developments and later celebrated Adeleke’s victory with the message, “We did it, Uncle.”

This does not mean Davido single-handedly delivered Adeleke’s victory. Elections are influenced by numerous factors, including candidates, party structures, voters, campaign organisations, political issues and local dynamics.

But it does demonstrate something important:
A celebrity with a huge following can make an election impossible for their audience to ignore.

What should other celebrities do in 2027?Nigeria’s next presidential and National Assembly elections are currently scheduled for January 16, 2027, according to INEC.

That means celebrities who intend to participate in the political process have an opportunity to begin thinking beyond endorsements.

They can use their influence in at least five important ways.

Educate voters, not just campaign for candidates
Celebrities should not limit their political participation to telling followers who to vote for.
They can explain candidates’ policies, compare manifestos, discuss issues affecting young people and encourage voters to research candidates before making decisions.
Their platforms can become spaces for civic education.
Mobilise young voters
Nigeria has a huge population of young people, many of whom consume more information through social media than through traditional political channels.
Celebrities can use their platforms to encourage young Nigerians to participate in the electoral process, understand the voting procedure and take their civic responsibilities seriously.
Fight misinformation
Election periods are often flooded with fake news, manipulated videos and misleading claims.
Celebrities can use their influence to discourage the spread of unverified information.
Instead of becoming another source of political propaganda, they can encourage their followers to verify claims before sharing them.
Hold politicians accountable after the election
This may be the most important lesson.
Celebrity involvement in politics should not end when the votes are counted.
If a celebrity uses his or her platform to support a politician, that celebrity should also be willing to question that politician when policies or actions fail to meet the expectations of the people.
Support should not become silence.
If celebrities want their political influence to be taken seriously, they must demonstrate that their involvement is about public interest and not simply access to political power.
Demand peaceful elections
Davido’s involvement also showed that celebrities can use their influence to speak about the conduct of elections.
Before the Osun election, he called for peace, transparency and the protection of voters.
This is perhaps one of the most valuable roles celebrities can play.
They can support peaceful participation regardless of which candidate their followers support.

The bigger question for 2027
Davido’s involvement in Osun has opened up a broader conversation about the political power of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

Afrobeats artists, actors, comedians, influencers and other public figures have something politicians desperately need: attention.

The question is how that attention will be used.
Will celebrities simply tell their followers who to vote for?
Or will they use their influence to encourage Nigerians to understand the issues, scrutinise candidates, reject violence, verify information and participate meaningfully in the democratic process?

The 2027 presidential election could provide the answer.
Davido’s Osun experience has shown what is possible when celebrity influence meets organised political mobilisation.

But the real test will be whether Nigeria’s celebrities can take that influence one step further — from campaigning for politicians to empowering voters.

And perhaps that is the most important lesson from Osun.
Celebrities do not need to become politicians to influence politics. They already have the audience. What matters is how responsibly they choose to use