Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has distanced himself from comments made by his aide, Ambrose Nwogwugwu, in reaction to a recent appeal by Nigerian musician, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Governor Uzodimma said he neither authorised Nwogwugwu nor anyone else to respond to Davido’s appeal for peace ahead of the election.
Davido, who is an in-law to the Imo State Governor, had appealed to Uzodimma, in his capacity as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and the APC Osun State Governorship Campaign Council, to use his influence to promote a peaceful election.
However, Nwogwugwu, in his personal response, described the singer’s appeal as “emotional blackmail” and advised him to direct his appeal to the people of Osun State, who will determine the outcome of the election.
But Uzodimma, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, said the comments did not represent his position or that of the campaign council.
The governor also sought to reassure Davido that their relationship remained intact.
“Davido remains my son,” Uzodimma said, stressing that the singer’s presence in Osun ahead of the election would not make him an eligible voter in the state.
Uzodimma explained that he would be in Osun as a leader and committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that his participation was aimed at supporting the party’s candidate and monitoring the electoral process.
He said it was normal in a democracy for party leaders and members to accompany candidates during elections and canvass for votes, even when they are not registered voters in the affected state.
The governor reiterated that the APC was committed to a peaceful, credible, free and fair election, but said the party would not hesitate to appeal to Osun voters to support its candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
According to him, campaigning and seeking electoral support for a party’s candidate are legitimate aspects of democratic competition.
“My respect for him and the people of Osun State is not negotiable,” Uzodimma said.
He urged Davido, the people of Osun State and the general public to disregard Nwogwugwu’s comments, describing them as personal opinions that should not be construed as the position of the governor or the campaign council.
Uzodimma said the clarification became necessary to prevent what he described as “mischief makers” from misrepresenting the comments and creating unnecessary tension ahead of the election.
