A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, has said the 2026 governorship elections in Osun State and Ekiti State will serve as the first real test of the political strength and credibility of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Naijaonpoint reports that Sowunmi made the assertion during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid growing public debate over emerging opposition platforms ahead of future elections.
Reacting to claims that the ADC is positioning itself as a rescue platform for Nigerians, the PDP chieftain dismissed the narrative, stressing that political relevance is determined by electoral outcomes, not public declarations.
“I don’t think so. Look, the first test they’re going to have will be in Osun and then Ekiti, whichever comes first. And then they’re going to learn that these things don’t yield to the noise that they are making,” Sowunmi said on Thursday.
Sowunmi warned against drawing early conclusions about the ADC’s prospects, noting that political organisations require time to overcome internal contradictions and entrenched habits.
He said, “I have a lot of opinions on the ADC, but I think it is a bit too early. One must be careful not to injure an already injured effort.
“I think it is injured because it takes time to purge yourself of your attitude. We are human beings; we are creatures of character and habits. The habits you pick over the years, if no one tells you they are bad, you will continue to use them.”
The PDP stalwart also criticised what he described as early signs of entitlement within the ADC’s structure, warning that such attitudes could undermine the party’s growth.
“You have not even gotten past the goal line. You already have very heavy conversations of entitlement from those who think they must be given tickets even before they join,” Sowunmi added.