James Faleke, the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in Lagos State, has firmly rejected allegations made by Afrobeats artist Davido concerning his influence over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the recent governorship election in Osun State.

The controversy erupted when Davido, while observing the collation of election results in Osogbo, accused Faleke of attempting to pressure INEC to alter the election outcome. In a tweet, Davido stated, "Hon. James Faleke, stop putting pressure on INEC to change Osun election result. Respect the wishes of Osun people. We don’t want Oyetola and AMBO."

In response to these claims, Faleke took to his verified X account to defend his actions, asserting that his presence in Osun was solely to support Bola Oyebamiji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He emphasized that he has never engaged in electoral manipulation and has no intention of doing so in the future.

Faleke further remarked, "I have never influenced or rigged before and I don’t plan to start now. Face your music while we face our politics. I came to Osun to support my party’s candidate, while you supported your uncle’s party (Accord). INEC is a body that can’t be influenced by me or anyone else."

This exchange highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the election results in Osun, where the political stakes are high. As the situation develops, both Faleke and Davido continue to represent their respective political interests, with the former advocating for the APC and the latter supporting the Accord Party candidate, his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The Osun governorship election has drawn significant attention, and allegations of electoral interference are serious matters that can undermine public trust in the democratic process. Faleke's strong rebuttal serves to clarify his position and distance himself from any accusations of wrongdoing as the political landscape in the state continues to evolve.