The dance steps that opponents once mocked may have turned out to be one of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s biggest political weapons, according to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party’s National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, has admitted that Adeleke’s ability to connect with voters through music, dance and grassroots interaction gave him an advantage that his political rivals failed to fully understand.
In a post-election analysis shared on Facebook, Israel said Adeleke’s famous dancing was not a sign of unseriousness as some critics portrayed it, but a carefully built connection with the emotions and culture of the people.
He argued that the governor’s public performances helped break the distance often associated with political leaders and made him appear more approachable to ordinary voters.
“Governor Adeleke’s dancing was never a weakness. It was a political language. It humanised him, made him accessible, and created emotional proximity with ordinary voters,” Israel said.
Adeleke, popularly known as the “Dancing Governor”, secured victory in the Osun governorship election, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji.
The outcome has now triggered soul-searching within the APC, with Israel warning that the party must rethink how it engages voters ahead of future elections.
According to him, the Osun result showed that elections are not won by elite approval alone but by understanding the feelings, identity and expectations of voters at the grassroots.
He said while some political analysts focused on Adeleke’s dancing and entertainment style, supporters saw it as a symbol of accessibility and belonging.
“Politics is not only policy. It is emotion, identity, presence and belonging,” he stated.
Israel also pointed to the role played by Afrobeats star Davido, Adeleke’s nephew, in mobilising young voters during the campaign.
He said Davido’s involvement went beyond celebrity endorsement, as the singer deployed his influence, music, online platforms and personal connection with young Nigerians to strengthen Adeleke’s campaign.
The APC youth leader challenged his party to identify personalities capable of creating similar connections with younger voters.
“Who are the Davidos in the APC?” he asked.
Israel said the party’s defeat should serve as a warning over internal divisions, weak grassroots structures and inadequate engagement with young people and women.
He called for early preparation ahead of elections, stressing that campaign structures should not be hurriedly created only when voting approaches.
“A campaign council must be formed early, properly funded, given clear deliverables and held accountable. Anything less is theatre, not strategy,” he said.
The APC chieftain said Adeleke’s victory offered lessons that political parties could no longer ignore — that personality, emotional connection and grassroots presence could be as important as policy discussions.
He concluded by challenging his party to learn from the Osun experience.
“President Tinubu gave us a democratic contest. Governor Adeleke understood his people. Davido understood his generation. The question is whether the APC understands its own lesson,” Israel added.
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