70 People Wasted Their L!ves For Dancing Clown, Adeleke, In August Poll’: Adeyanju Tackles Osun Gov Over Support For Tinubu’s Second Term
‘70 People Wasted Their Lives For Dancing Clown, Adeleke, In August Poll’: Adeyanju Tackles Osun Gov Over Support For Tinubu’s Second Term
The activist expressed anger over a betrayal of the people who lost their lives in the course of supporting Adeleke against the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the governorship election in Osun State.
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has criticised Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke over his decision to publicly support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition, claiming that 70 people lost their lives while supporting Adeleke during the recent Osun governorship election.
Adeyanju made the remarks in reaction to a video of Adeleke dancing in Abuja on Wednesday while expressing support for Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office.
The activist expressed anger over a betrayal of the people who lost their lives in the course of supporting Adeleke against the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the governorship election in Osun State.
According to Adeyanju, the deaths raised questions about the sacrifices made by supporters of Nigerian politicians, particularly when those politicians subsequently align themselves with political figures or parties their supporters had opposed.
He explained that people who risk their lives for politicians often end up being abandoned when political interests change, warning Nigerians against allowing politicians to exploit their loyalty and sacrifice.
In a statement, Adeyanju said, “70 people died for dancing clown Governor Adeleke in the recently conducted Osun election. 70 people wasted their lives for a Nigerian politician just like that. If you like don’t have sense, allow Nigerian politicians use your head or destroy your life.”
The activist’s criticism followed Adeleke’s appearance in Abuja on Wednesday, where the Osun governor was seen dancing while supporting Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Adeleke’s reported show of support for Tinubu prompted Adeyanju to question the sacrifices made by those who supported the governor during the Osun governorship election, particularly supporters who opposed the APC.
Adeyanju’s comments reflect concerns over the relationship between political loyalty, electoral violence and the conduct of Nigerian politicians, with the activist warning citizens against putting their lives at risk for political figures.
Official casualty figures for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election vary depending on the government institution or security agency.
For instance, the Nigeria Police Force documented at least 30 killings classified as politically motivated during the build-up to the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed that 18 lives were officially lost during the pre-election phase.
In addition to official state numbers, non-governmental monitoring organisations tracked pre-election fatalities. The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) reported 29 deaths across 73 violent incidents ahead of the election, identifying Osogbo as the worst-hit hotspot while the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Conflict Tracker recorded 18 deaths from 34 violent incidents between May 2026 and the eve of the election.
