The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Dayo Israel, has said Governor Ademola Adeleke’s famous dancing was not a sign of weakness but a political strategy that helped him connect with voters during the Osun State governorship election.
Israel made the observation while reflecting on the outcome of Saturday’s election, in which Adeleke of the Accord Party defeated the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to secure a second term as governor of Osun State.
Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji secured 444,815 votes. The result gave Adeleke a margin of more than 66,000 votes and prompted calls within the APC for the party to reassess its campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the result, Israel argued that Adeleke’s personality and ability to relate directly with ordinary people played an important role in his victory.
He said the governor’s singing, dancing, accessibility and interactions with residents helped create an emotional connection with voters that conventional political analysis could easily overlook.
“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.
The APC youth leader argued that politics goes beyond policies and campaign promises, noting that emotion, identity, presence and a sense of belonging can significantly influence how voters relate to political candidates.
According to him, Adeleke successfully embraced the culture and emotions of the people, allowing voters to see him as someone who was relatable rather than distant from them.
Israel identified Adeleke as one of three personalities who, in his assessment, defined the Osun election. The other two were President Bola Tinubu and singer Davido, whose involvement in the election attracted significant public attention.
His comments are particularly notable because they came from a senior APC figure following the party’s defeat in the election. Rather than dismissing Adeleke’s public performances, Israel urged his party to understand why they resonated with voters.
He has also called for a major strategic overhaul within the APC, including greater investment in young communicators, creatives, digital influencers, community organisers and other grassroots mobilisers ahead of 2027.
The assessment suggests that the APC’s campaign strategy in Osun may have underestimated the importance of personal connection and grassroots engagement.
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