Shehu Sani To Davido: Calling Trump To Monitor Nigeria’s Election Is A Waste Of Time

Former senator and human rights activist, Shehu Sani, has dismissed Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido’s call for United States President Donald Trump and the international community to monitor the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

Sani described efforts to involve Trump in Nigeria’s electoral process as futile, arguing that the US president has little interest in the credibility of elections in African countries.

LEADERSHIP reports that Davido had called on Trump and the international community to pay close attention to the August 15 Osun governorship election amid concerns over possible violence and alleged attempts to manipulate the poll.

Reacting to the appeal in a post on his X account, Sani said Trump’s attention was focused on other pressing international and domestic issues.

He cited the Strait of Hormuz, the Gaza conflict and the war in Ukraine as some of the issues currently demanding the US president’s attention.

Sani also pointed to the forthcoming US congressional elections, arguing that Trump’s Republican Party was focused on retaining its influence in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“Those who are trying to drag Mr Trump into our elections are just wasting their time,” Sani wrote.

According to the former senator, Trump differs from former US presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden in his approach to African affairs and elections.

“Trump is not Obama or Biden. He has least interest in the credibility or otherwise of elections in Africa,” he said.

Sani cited elections in Tanzania, Uganda and Cameroon as examples of African electoral processes in which, according to him, Trump had shown limited interest.

“The elections in Tanzania, Uganda and Cameroon are case studies,” he added.

Sani further argued that the US president had more immediate priorities, saying, “Mr Trump’s hands are 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.”

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, with political parties and stakeholders intensifying preparations ahead of the poll.