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

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

Israel, in an article shared on Facebook on Sunday, said 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 his public performances.

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

Reflecting on the election, Israel said the outcome should prompt the APC to examine its campaign strategy and how it connects with voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He identified Adeleke as one of three personalities who, in his assessment, defined the election, saying the governor’s grassroots appeal was strengthened by his willingness to embrace the culture and emotions 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.

Israel said Adeleke’s singing, dancing, accessibility and public worship created an emotional connection that some political analyses 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.

He noted that a candidate could dominate elite discourse yet struggle to secure support at ward level, while another candidate mocked in elite circles could command strong grassroots loyalty.

Israel also credited singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido and the governor’s nephew, with helping to mobilise young people around Adeleke’s campaign.

He said Davido deployed his influence, networks, music and digital reach to connect the campaign with younger voters, questioning whether the APC had equivalent young personalities capable of mobilising the demographic.

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

Israel said the APC’s loss in Osun should also compel the party to address internal divisions, weak grassroots structures and inadequate engagement with its youth and women wings.

He urged the party to establish campaign structures well ahead of elections, properly fund them and assign clear responsibilities.

“A campaign council must be formed early, properly funded, given clear deliverables and held accountable. Anything less is theatre, not strategy,” he said.

He also called for reconciliation among party members ahead of 2027, stressing the need for broader inclusion to achieve electoral success.

Israel said the APC should learn from Adeleke’s connection with voters and Davido’s appeal among young people.

“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 said.