ABUJA — Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has dismissed singer Davido’s appeal to United States President Donald Trump to intervene in the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, saying those seeking to involve the American leader are “wasting their time.”
Sani made the remarks in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, shortly after Davido called on Trump to pay attention to the Osun election amid concerns over possible violence and disruption of the democratic process.
“Those who are trying to drag Mr Trump into our elections are just wasting their time,” Sani said.
The former senator argued that Trump was unlikely to prioritise the credibility of African elections, pointing to elections in Tanzania, Uganda and Cameroon as examples.
“Trump is not Obama or Biden. He has least interest in the credibility or otherwise of elections in Africa,” Sani said.
He also suggested that Trump’s foreign policy priorities were currently focused elsewhere, citing tensions involving the Strait of Hormuz, Gaza and Ukraine.
“Mr Trump’s hands is full with Strait of Hormuz, Gaza and Ukraine and most importantly, his party is battling to survive the upcoming Senate and House of Representatives elections,” he added.
Davido had earlier appealed to Trump to pay attention to the Osun governorship election, expressing concern over rising political tension and the potential for violence, intimidation and disruption of the electoral process.
The singer’s appeal comes as political activities intensify ahead of the governorship poll, with concerns over the security of voters, candidates and election officials remaining part of the wider debate surrounding the election.
Sani’s intervention has now added a political dimension to the debate over whether foreign governments, particularly the United States, should take an interest in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The former lawmaker’s position was that responsibility for ensuring credible elections rests primarily within Nigeria’s democratic and electoral institutions rather than with the US president.
The controversy comes amid heightened attention on the Osun governorship election, where political actors and stakeholders are expected to rely on Nigeria’s electoral institutions and security agencies to safeguard the voting process.
