Osun: ‘Adeleke’s Dancing Was A Political Language’ — APC Youth Leader

The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dayo Israel, has criticised the party for underestimating Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s dancing and entertainment skills during the just-concluded governorship election.

According to Ireporter Online, Israel said Adeleke’s ability to sing, dance and interact freely with ordinary voters should have been recognised as a political advantage rather than dismissed as a weakness.

Adeleke, the candidate of the Accord Party, secured re-election in Saturday’s election after polling 511,067 votes to defeat APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who recorded 444,815 votes.

Reacting to the outcome in a Facebook post, Israel argued that Adeleke successfully used his personality and accessibility to establish a strong emotional connection with voters across the state.

He described the governor’s dancing as a form of political communication that helped make him relatable and accessible to grassroots voters.

Israel said the election result should encourage the APC to reassess its campaign strategies and how it connects with voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He stressed that electoral success goes beyond policies and elite-level political discussions, noting that emotions, identity, visibility and a sense of belonging can significantly influence voters.

The APC youth leader warned that a candidate could enjoy strong support among political elites but still struggle to connect with voters at the grassroots, while another candidate mocked in elite circles could command significant loyalty among ordinary citizens.

Israel also praised Afrobeats superstar Davido for his role in Adeleke’s campaign and youth mobilisation efforts.

According to him, Davido went beyond making a symbolic appearance by deploying his popularity, personal networks, music and digital influence to reach young voters.

He questioned whether the APC currently has young personalities with comparable influence who can mobilise the younger generation effectively.

Israel urged the party to learn from the Osun election and understand the importance of connecting with voters at both the grassroots and digital levels.

He maintained that President Bola Tinubu provided the platform for a democratic contest, while Adeleke successfully understood the sentiments of Osun voters and Davido effectively connected with his generation.

The APC youth leader said the major question now is whether his party will properly understand and apply the lessons from the election ahead of 2027.