Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has disowned comments made by his aide, Ambrose Nwogwugwu, in response to a recent appeal by Nigerian music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Uzodimma said at no time did he authorise Nwogwugwu or any other individual to issue a response to Davido’s call for a peaceful electoral process.
The singer, who is related to the governor by marriage, had appealed to Uzodimma in his capacity as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Osun State Governorship Campaign Council to use his influence to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.
However, Nwogwugwu, reacting in his personal capacity, described Davido’s appeal as “emotional blackmail” and urged the award-winning artiste to direct his message to the people of Osun State, who alone would determine the outcome of the poll.
But in a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, the Imo governor said the aide’s remarks were entirely personal and should not be interpreted as his position or that of the APC campaign council.
Uzodimma also reaffirmed his relationship with the singer, insisting that there was no disagreement between them.
“Davido remains my son,” the governor stated, adding that while the singer may be present in Osun during the election, his presence would not make him a registered voter in the state.
He explained that his own visit to Osun would be strictly in his capacity as a leader of the APC and Chairman of the party’s governorship campaign council, with the objective of supporting the party’s candidate and observing the electoral process.
According to him, it is a normal feature of democratic politics for party leaders and members to accompany candidates during electioneering campaigns and canvass support for them, regardless of whether they are registered voters in the state where the election is being held.
Uzodimma reiterated the APC’s commitment to a peaceful, credible, free and fair election, while maintaining that the party would continue to campaign vigorously for its candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
He noted that seeking votes and mobilising support for a political party’s candidate remain legitimate components of democratic participation.
“My respect for him and the people of Osun State is not negotiable,” the governor said.
He urged Davido, the people of Osun State and the general public to disregard Nwogwugwu’s comments, stressing that they reflected only the aide’s personal opinion and not the official position of either the governor or the APC campaign council.
Uzodimma added that the clarification became necessary to prevent what he described as “mischief makers” from exploiting the situation to misrepresent his views and create unnecessary tension ahead of the governorship election.
