Monday Okpebholo, Edo State governor, has thrust Governor Ademola Adeleke’s trademark dancing back to the centre of political discourse in the build-up to the August 15 Osun governorship election, signalling what appears to be the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) latest strategy to frame the election as a referendum on the incumbent’s style of leadership.
BusinessDay reports that many Nigerians now popularly refer to Adeleke as the “Dancing Governor” because of his penchant for breaking into dance at public events and official functions, a trademark that has become a defining feature of his public image.
With barely nine days to the poll, the campaign has shifted from policy debates to personality politics, as APC leaders increasingly portray Adeleke’s public dance displays as evidence of unserious governance, while the governor insists the criticism is politically motivated and unrelated to his performance in office.
Speaking at an APC campaign rally for Bola Oyebamiji, the party’s governorship candidate, Okpebholo repeatedly mocked Adeleke’s dancing, arguing that it had overshadowed governance throughout his tenure.
“Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast, before he drinks tea, he will dance,” Okpebholo told supporters.
The Edo governor also attempted to tie Adeleke to Godwin Obaseki, former Edo governor, urging Osun voters to reject the incumbent just as, according to him, Edo voters rejected Obaseki.
“That man is Obaseki’s friend. You know we kicked Obaseki out of Edo. So, we have to kick his friend out of this place too. A lot of people ‘chopped’ Obaseki’s money, but they never voted for him,” he said.
Addressing allegations that the Accord party was inducing voters with cash ahead of the election, Okpebholo urged supporters to accept the money but vote for the APC.
“If they bring money, ‘chop’ that money from them, but don’t vote for them. They said they have money to spend, is that not so? Just collect the money, keep it in your pocket,” he said.
Campaigning for Oyebamiji, Okpebholo described the APC candidate as the leader Osun needed, promising improved infrastructure if elected.
He also criticised the condition of roads in the state, saying, “The road I was passing, my tyre was shaking. I said, is it the dancing road or the dancing governor’s road?”
The remarks underscored the APC’s effort to turn Adeleke’s popular public image into a political liability, replacing debates over governance and development with questions about leadership perception and executive seriousness.
However, Adeleke has consistently dismissed the criticism, insisting that dancing is a personal hobby that neither distracts him from governance nor diminishes his effectiveness in office.
“I will keep dancing because I love to dance and praise my God. It doesn’t change anything. Everyone has their way of relaxing. My hobby is to dance, and it does not affect my work,” the governor had said during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
As campaigning enters its final stretch, the development suggest the contest is becoming increasingly defined by competing narratives over personality and public perception, with both the APC and Accord seeking to shape voter sentiment ahead of what is expected to be one of Nigeria’s most closely watched off-cycle governorship elections.
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