Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed criticism of his penchant for dancing, insisting that his hobby has never affected his responsibilities as governor.

Adeleke made the remarks on Tuesday at the Arise TV town hall meeting for candidates participating in the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

The governor, who is seeking re-election, said dancing was part of his personality and family culture, stressing that he was capable of combining his love for entertainment with the demands of governance.

“I dance because in my family, we are jolly good fellows. As I am dancing, I am working. There is time for everything, there is time to dance, and there is time to work. Dancing does not stop me from working. I have delivered across all sectors,” Adeleke said.

His comments came days after Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, mocked him at an All Progressives Congress campaign rally in Osun State, describing Adeleke as the “dancing governor” and urging voters to reject him at the polls.

Responding to his critics, Adeleke said those who were uncomfortable with his dancing could learn the skill from him.

“If they can’t dance, I can teach them how to dance,” he said.

The governor maintained that dancing remained merely a hobby and had not compromised his performance in office.

“Dancing is a hobby. That does not affect my work. My people love me,” he added.

Beyond the controversy over his dancing, Adeleke used the town hall to highlight what he described as the achievements of his administration since assuming office.

He said his government had constructed and rehabilitated roads across Osun State, with solar-powered streetlights installed along some of the routes to improve security and stimulate economic activity.

“As I’m speaking to you, I did not only build roads across Osun, I installed them with solar lights. This we did to provide security and enhance economic development,” he said.

Adeleke also claimed that more than 200 primary healthcare facilities across the state had been upgraded and rehabilitated, with the facilities provided with electricity and clean water.

“As of today, we have upgraded and rehabilitated over 200 primary healthcare facilities to global standards, equipped with electricity and clean water,” he said.

He added that qualified engineers had certified the projects executed by his administration as meeting international standards.

Adeleke is seeking a second term on the platform of the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he won the 2022 governorship election.

He faces the All Progressives Congress candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, and other contenders in Saturday’s election.