Adeleke’s dancing was political language, not weakness — APC youth leader

The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dayo Israel, has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s dancing as a political strength that helped him connect with voters in Osun State.

Israel, in an article shared on Facebook on Sunday, said Mr Adeleke’s ability to sing, dance and interact closely with the grassroots should not have been dismissed by political opponents who viewed the governor mainly through the lens of his public performances.

Mr Adeleke, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was declared winner of Saturday’s Osun governorship election after polling 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.

Reflecting on the election, Israel said the outcome should prompt the APC to reassess its campaign strategies and approach to grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.

He identified Mr Adeleke as one of three personalities who, in his assessment, defined the election.

According to him, Adeleke’s grassroots appeal was strengthened by his willingness to embrace the culture, emotions and identity of the people.

“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,” he said.

Mr Israel said Adeleke’s singing, dancing, accessibility and public worship helped create an emotional connection with voters that some political analysts failed to recognise.

“Politics is not only policy. It is emotion, identity, presence and belonging,” he said.

The APC youth leader said the party should learn that electoral success was not necessarily determined by elite approval or sophistication.

“Our party must therefore stop confusing sophistication with electoral value. A candidate may dominate elite discourse and still fail to move a ward. Another may be mocked in elite spaces and still command overwhelming loyalty on the ground,” he said.

IMr Israel also credited singer Davido, Adeleke’s nephew, with helping to mobilise young people around the governor’s campaign.

He said Davido used his influence, networks, music, digital reach and personal credibility to connect the campaign with a younger generation.

“Davido did not treat his role as symbolic. He was placed at the centre of youth mobilisation and used his influence, networks, music, digital reach and personal credibility to connect the campaign to a generation,” Israel said.

He questioned whether the APC had equivalent young personalities capable of mobilising young voters.

“Who are the Davidos in the APC?” he asked.

Mr Israel said the APC’s defeat in Osun should also compel the party to address internal divisions, weak grassroots structures and what he described as inadequate engagement of its youth and women wings.

He argued that campaign structures should be established well ahead of elections rather than assembled shortly before polling.

“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 youth leader also urged the party to reconcile its internal divisions ahead of 2027, arguing that electoral victory would require broader inclusion and stronger grassroots engagement.

Concluding his assessment, Israel said the APC should learn from Adeleke’s connection with the electorate and Davido’s appeal among young voters.

“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,” he added.