Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has defended his frequent public dancing, saying critics are jealous because they cannot dance like him.

Adeleke spoke on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the Arise News Town Hall meeting in Osogbo ahead of the state’s governorship election.

‘Nobody Will Stop Me From Dancing’

Responding to criticism that his dancing could distract from governance, Adeleke said the habit was part of his personality and family background.

“They are jealous of me because they cannot dance. In our family, we have music in our blood, and nobody will stop me from dancing,” he said.

The governor described his family as “jolly good fellows” and said dancing was simply one of his hobbies.

“As I’m dancing, I’m working,” Adeleke added, stressing that there was “time for everything, there’s time to dance, there’s time to work.”

Adeleke Points to Projects

Adeleke insisted that his dancing had not affected his responsibilities as governor.

He said he remains serious and prudent when performing official duties, adding that his administration had delivered projects in different sectors, including road construction and rehabilitation.

The governor also jokingly offered to teach his critics how to dance if they were interested.

APC Has Mocked Governor’s Dancing

Adeleke’s comments come amid renewed criticism from APC figures over his public dancing.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo recently mocked Adeleke at an APC campaign rally, questioning whether the Osun governor had spent too much of his tenure dancing instead of governing.

Adeleke, popularly known as the “dancing governor”, has faced similar criticism throughout his tenure, while supporters have defended the dancing as part of his personality and public image.

The issue has become a recurring theme in the build-up to the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election, with opponents portraying the habit as a sign of unseriousness and Adeleke insisting it has no bearing on his performance in office.