Davido, the Afrobeats star, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of “incompetence” in the ongoing gubernatorial elections in Edo.

On Saturday, residents went to the polls to elect a successor to Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is completing his two-term tenure of eight years.

Seventeen political parties are participating in the election, with the major contenders being the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP).

The key candidates include Monday Okpebholo (APC), Asue Ighodalo (PDP), and Olumide Akpata (LP).

During the election, there were reports of vote-buying and the presence of political thugs at some polling units.

Ighodalo also accused the police of voter intimidation.

“One of our supporters was arrested by men in mufti carrying guns. Nobody should carry a gun to a polling unit; that’s against the law and regulation,” he said.

Davido, who recently expressed enthusiasm for the election and supported Ighodalo, criticised INEC, labeling it “the most dangerous institution in Nigeria” and “very incompetent”.

He also urged the commission to enhance its operations, adding that the world is watching the unfolding events in the state.

“The most dangerous institution in Nigeria @inecnigeria,” he wrote on Instagram.

“Very incompetent @inecnigeria fix up! The world is watching #Edodecides.”

My mom is from Edo for those wondering why I’m interested in the election … but we as Nigerians should be concerned sha .. @inecnigeria shame on you I know how many times I had to come in here and rant before they got it right in Osun ! It’s really bad . God help us

— Davido (@davido) September 21, 2024

We already know that @inecnigeria will not transmit results electronically so everyone should be ready to follow the vote/result from the polling unit up until state collation center.

— Davido (@davido) September 21, 2024

The faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Julius Abure says Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the party in 2023, and Alex Otti, governor of Abia state, have betrayed it.

The faction is miffed at both men because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to recognise Abure as LP national chair.

INEC’s position was contained in a counter affidavit filed in the Abuja federal high court.

The counter affidavit was in response to a suit filed by the Abure-led LP faction which is challenging its exclusion from uploading the names of its party agents on the INEC website for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

The electoral commission said Abure’s tenure as national chair of the opposition party expired in June 2024.

In reaction to the development on Wednesday, Obiora Ifoh, spokesperson of the faction, said some of the people who want Abure out did not have money to purchase nomination forms in the build-up to the 2023 election.

“As you are aware, the party has since sued INEC challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections,” Ifoh said in a statement.

“However, INEC had in a counter-affidavit, filed in response to our suit argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is now invalid, stressing that it does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which re-elected Abure as chairman.

“The leadership of the Labour Party is however miffed by the actions of our leaders including our former presidential candidate Peter Obi and the only Labour Party governor, Dr. Alex Otti who should be defending the party at this auspicious and trying moment.

“They ought to know that the Labour Party is going through these challenging times simply because of its role in defending both leaders during the 2023 general election.

“For the benefit of hindsight, not a few Nigerians will forget how the Labour Party reduced its guards in accommodating some of these leaders when they were denied tickets in their former political parties.

“Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal.”

Nenadi Usman, a former senator, has since been appointed as national chair of the LP caretaker committee, following a party stakeholders meeting called by Otti recently.

Obi, and Datti Baba-Ahmed, LP vice-presidential candidate in 2023, were among the top party members that attended the meeting.

In a political move that has electrified the campaign trail, award-winning musician David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has thrown his weight behind Asue Ighodalo, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the upcoming Edo governorship elections.

The Afrobeats artiste took to his Instagram Stories on Sunday, September 15, 2024, to announce the endorsement.

The singer posted a Nigerian newspaper cover featuring Ighodalo and captioned, “The next governor of my mother’s homeland.”

Though an indigene of Ede in Osun State, Davido’s mother hails from Edo, which adds a personal touch to the endorsement that has stirred conversations among political observers and fans alike on social media.

The timing of this endorsement could not be more strategic, as the election is set to take place in less than a week on Saturday, September 21, 2024.

Davido’s post follows the arrival of his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, in Benin City.

Adeleke was part of a delegation of PDP governors attending a major rally for Ighodalo, signalling the growing support for the PDP candidate from influential political figures nationwide.

This endorsement is poised to resonate with younger, often politically disengaged voters, a demographic Davido has successfully mobilised in the past. With millions of followers on social media, his influence can shift the narrative in a state where voter apathy has historically been a challenge.

Several recent polls, including those from BusinessDay and the African Polling Institute, already show Ighodalo leading his rivals by a significant margin. Davido’s backing could solidify his standing as the front-runner.