ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, has said the forthcoming 2026 governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states will serve as the first genuine test of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stressing that political relevance is determined by performance at the polls, not public grandstanding.
Sowunmi made the assertion on Thursday during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, amid growing conversations about emerging opposition parties positioning themselves as alternatives to Nigeria’s dominant political blocs.
Reacting to claims that the ADC is emerging as a rescue platform for disenchanted Nigerians, the PDP stalwart dismissed such narratives, arguing that only electoral outcomes, not rhetoric, would establish the party’s credibility.
“I don’t think so. The first test they are going to face will be in Osun and then Ekiti, whichever comes first. That is when they will realise that politics does not respond to the kind of noise they are making,” Sowunmi said.
He cautioned against rushing to conclusions about the party’s prospects, noting that political organisations often struggle with internal contradictions and long-standing habits that take time to correct.
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“I have many opinions about the ADC, but I think it is still too early. One must be careful not to further damage an already injured effort. Politics is about character and habits. If bad habits are not pointed out, people will simply continue with them,” he stated.
Sowunmi also criticised what he described as early signs of entitlement within the ADC, warning that such attitudes could undermine the party’s growth before it gains electoral footing.
“You haven’t even crossed the goal line, yet there are already heavy conversations about entitlement. People are demanding tickets even before they formally join,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed June 20, 2026, for the Ekiti State governorship election, while Osun State will go to the polls on August 8, 2026.
The electoral umpire has also released a detailed timetable covering party primaries, publication of candidates’ names and campaign activities, describing the off-season elections as critical indicators ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC says it is strengthening electoral credibility through measures such as deploying Resident Electoral Commissioners outside their states of origin and improving election technologies, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
As the contests draw closer, major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP, have begun mobilisation efforts, with the elections coming less than a year before the 2027 presidential poll.