Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo said Osun State is ready to move from dancing to working while submitting the APC governorship primary report, in a direct reference to Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke at an APC event in Abuja. The comment came on Wednesday at the APC national secretariat, where Okpebholo, who chaired the Osun APC primary election committee, presented the report that confirmed Bola Oyebamiji as the party’s candidate for the August 2026 Osun governorship election.
What Okpebholo Said At The APC Event
Addressing journalists at Muhammadu Buhari House after submitting the committee report, Governor Okpebholo said the outcome of the primary showed Osun people wanted change.“The people of Osun are tired of dancing. In the morning, they dance; in the afternoon, they dance; in the evening, they dance, yet there is less work. Now, they are looking for somebody who can really work for them”. He added that with the APC candidate, “the sky is the limit in terms of development in the state”.
APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who received the report alongside other party officials, made a similar point.“The people of Osun State are ready to move from dancing to working. They want to see the economy move; they want to see roads; they want to see schools; they want to see every aspect of the economy revived”. Yilwatda also said the party was set to “change the narrative in the state by providing purposeful governance as opposed to what obtains in the state today”. Okpebholo described the assignment as “a defining experience” and said the committee witnessed “overwhelming unity, enthusiasm and popular support for the party’s candidate across Osun State”.
Why Adeleke Is Referred To As The Dancing Governor
Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke has been publicly associated with dancing at political and social events since his campaign days. Videos of Adeleke dancing at rallies and gatherings have circulated widely online. In one clip from a gathering with the Osun State Cooperative Movement, he was seen addressing supporters and repeatedly saying “I love you” before performing one of his known dance routines. The dancing has drawn mixed reactions. Some supporters have expressed admiration for it. One supporter online wrote: “We love our governor so much as well, and we are re-electing him back to office”.
Others have criticized it. A social media user described him as “a clown in the office of governor”.The Osun APC has also commented on it in the past. In a statement issued by its chairman, the party urged Governor Adeleke to “stop frolicking around twerking and focus on delivering quality governance to the people of the state”. The statement accused him of attending events outside the state while workers’ welfare issues remained unresolved.
PDP officials have defended Adeleke. The party said the APC was “paranoid with the superlative performance of the governor within one-half years in office”. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also spoke in Adeleke’s defense at an event, saying: “They call you a dancer. But you are dancing to praise God. And I heard you are working hard for your people”.
APC Presents Oyebamiji As Candidate For 2026
The primary election that Okpebholo’s committee supervised produced Bola Oyebamiji as the APC flag bearer for the August 2026 Osun governorship election. While submitting the report, Okpebholo said the process reflected the desire of Osun people for “real governance”. He stated: “Osun people are eager for change. They are tired of motion without development”. APC leaders have positioned the 2026 election as a contest between the current PDP administration and an APC alternative. Yilwatda said the party had “given a red card to the incumbent governor Ademola Adeleke from the Government House in August next year”.The party has not released a detailed campaign manifesto for Osun 2026.
The “from dancing to working” line is emerging as a key APC campaign message against the PDP administration, based on repeated use by party leaders at the Abuja event.
The Context Of Style Versus Governance Debate
The exchange highlights a recurring debate in Nigerian politics about how governors present themselves to the public. Adeleke’s public dancing and accessible style have made him one of the most talked-about governors online. Supporters argue it helps him connect with citizens. Critics argue it undermines the seriousness of the office. Okpebholo’s remarks frame the APC approach as focused on infrastructure and administration. Whether voters accept that framing will be tested at the polls.
No official data or independent audit was presented at the Abuja event to compare the performance of both administrations. The statements made were political positions ahead of an election.
What Happens Next In Osun Politics
With the APC primary concluded, attention now shifts to campaigning ahead of the August 2026 election. Governor Adeleke, who is the incumbent under the PDP, is expected to seek re-election. The PDP has not yet announced its timetable for primaries. For APC, the Oyebamiji candidacy will be marketed around issues of governance, economy, and service delivery, according to statements made by party leaders. For PDP, the strategy will likely center on defending the record of the current administration and countering the APC’s messaging.
The Independent National Electoral Commission is expected to release the full timetable for the 2026 Osun governorship election in due course.
As campaigns intensify, the “dancing to working” contrast is likely to remain part of the political conversation in Osun, reflecting how style, communication, and policy will all be on the ballot.
