“You’re Wasting Your Time” - Shehu Sani Fires Back at Davido Over Trump Appeal on Osun Election

Davido’s call on U.S. President Donald Trump to pay close attention to the Osun governorship election has received a blunt response from former Senator Shehu Sani.

The singer had earlier appealed to Trump and the international community to monitor the election, citing concerns over possible violence, intimidation and disruption of the democratic process. But Sani appears unimpressed with the idea of bringing Trump into Nigeria’s electoral affairs.

Reacting to Davido’s appeal, the former Kaduna Central senator said those trying to involve the U.S. president in Nigerian elections were simply “wasting their time.”  

“Trump Is Not Obama or Biden”

Sani argued that Trump does not have the same level of interest in the credibility of African elections that former U.S. presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden had. According to him, recent elections in countries including Tanzania, Uganda and Cameroon demonstrate what he described as Trump’s limited interest in African electoral matters. He also pointed to the issues currently occupying Trump’s attention, including the Strait of Hormuz, Gaza and Ukraine, as well as upcoming elections in the United States.

In other words, according to Sani, Davido may be looking in the wrong direction.

Davido’s appeal came ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election, where concerns about the safety of voters and the credibility of the electoral process have become part of the public conversation. In his message to Trump, the singer said Osun residents deserve to vote freely, peacefully and without fear.

“We do not want bloodshed. We do not want intimidation. We want peace, transparency, and a free and fair election,” Davido said in his appeal.

The singer’s decision to specifically tag Trump generated considerable reactions online, with Nigerians divided over whether seeking international attention could help protect the electoral process or whether Nigeria should handle its own affairs.

Now, Sani Has “Sat Him Down”

Sani’s response has added another layer to the controversy.

While Davido is asking Trump to pay attention to Osun, Sani’s message is essentially telling him not to hold his breath waiting for Trump.

The exchange has already sparked fresh debate online, with some Nigerians backing Sani’s position while others argue that international scrutiny can help discourage electoral violence and intimidation.

For now, the political conversation continues and with election day approaching, all eyes remain on Osun.