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

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, has offered a surprising perspective on Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke's public performances, characterizing his dancing not as a political liability, but as a potent "political language" that fostered a crucial connection with the electorate. Israel argued that Adeleke's ability to sing, dance, and engage directly with the grassroots should not have been dismissed by opponents who focused solely on his public displays.

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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.

Reflecting on Adeleke's victory in the Osun governorship election, where he secured 511,067 votes against the APC candidate's 444,815, Israel urged his party to re-evaluate its campaign strategies and voter engagement methods ahead of the 2027 general election. He identified Adeleke as a key figure who defined the election, noting that his "grassroots appeal was partly strengthened by his willingness to embrace the culture and emotions of the people."

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Politics is not only policy. It is emotion, identity, presence and belonging.

"Politics is not only policy. It is emotion, identity, presence and belonging," Israel stated, emphasizing that Adeleke's "singing, dancing, accessibility and public worship created an emotional connection that some political analyses failed to recognise." He advised the APC to avoid conflating "sophistication with electoral value," suggesting that a candidate might resonate with the masses despite being overlooked in elite circles.

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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.

Furthermore, Israel highlighted the significant role played by Governor Adeleke's nephew, the popular singer Davido, in galvanizing young voters. He noted that Davido actively used his influence, networks, music, and digital platforms to connect the campaign with a younger demographic, treating his role as central to youth mobilization. The APC youth leader questioned the presence of similar influential young personalities within his own party, posing the rhetorical question, "Who are the Davidos in the APC?" Israel concluded that the APC's defeat in Osun also necessitates addressing internal divisions and weak grassroots structures.

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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.