The victory of the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke, is an eye-opener that political power ultimately rests with the people. Power brokers may assemble, political heavyweights may arrive with battalions of loyalists, and the presidency may become a reference point, but when the people make their choice, every calculation must return to the ballot.
What is particularly instructive is how strongly Adeleke’s people stood behind him despite the enormous political pressure reportedly mounted against his administration. The presence of influential figures and political forces could not substitute for the sovereignty of the electorate. The people, not the parade, had the final word.
And perhaps this is where the dancing step begins to make political sense. When a rival begins to express what can only be described as morbid political fear, perhaps the dancer has already communicated what words cannot. Governor Ademola Adeleke’s famous dancing style may appear entertaining on the surface, but beneath the rhythm lies a deeper political lesson. In politics, one must understand what works and deploy it without apology.
The Osun experience should therefore serve as a quiet warning to political actors elsewhere, particularly in Kogi State. Those gathering around one man from Kabba or banking heavily on perceived presidential influence with the expectation of unsettling a sitting Governor may need to reconsider their calculations.
Unseating an incumbent Governor is not a child’s play. It requires more than endorsements, political gatherings, Abuja connections or the confidence of a few power brokers. It requires convincing the electorate, those who ultimately possess the constitutional sovereignty to decide who governs them.
For those in Kogi who are already positioning themselves for 2027, the message is simple, do not mistake political noise for popular support, and do not mistake proximity to power for ownership of the people. The wise politician studies the direction of the wind before raising the sail.
Congratulations to the dancing Governor, Ademola Adeleke. In Kogi we have Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Chief Native Servant alias Mr Alert that will replicate this energy.
– Abdulhameed Ivavah writes from Ajaokuta LGA, Home of Steel.
