Afrobeats singer Adekunle Almoruf Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, has said Nigeria is not practising true democracy.
The singer made the remarks while discussing the recently concluded Osun State governorship election and the involvement of Nigerian celebrities in political issues.
Speaking on the One54 Podcast in an episode published on YouTube on September 9, 2026, Adekunle Gold referred to a post by fellow singer Davido, in which he appealed to United States President Donald Trump to pay attention to the conduct of the Osun election.
Adekunle Gold linked Davido’s intervention to broader concerns about Nigeria’s democratic process, saying the country does not operate what he considers genuine democracy.
The singer also discussed the role entertainers and other public figures play in political conversations, particularly when elections and governance generate public concern.
His comments came after the August 15, 2026, Osun governorship election, which was won by the incumbent governor and Accord Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke.
The election generated reactions from politicians, civil society organisations and members of the public, with electoral integrity, governance and political accountability remaining subjects of debate.
Adekunle Gold said the development provided an opportunity to reflect on the state of democracy in Nigeria and the responsibility of public figures to draw attention to issues affecting citizens.
During the podcast, he also spoke about his career, personal experiences, the Nigerian economy and the music industry.