A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Sowunmi, has said that the African Democratic Congress will face its first major electoral tests in the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
Sowunmi stated this during an interview on a political programme on Thursday, as conversations continue about emerging opposition formations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He questioned claims that the ADC is becoming a strong alternative for voters, saying performance at the polls will reveal its actual strength.
“I don’t think so. The first test they are going to have will be in Osun and then Ekiti, whichever comes first. They are going to learn that these things do not yield to the noise they are making,” he said.
Sowunmi warned that political credibility is not built overnight and said parties need time to correct internal problems and long-standing behaviour.
“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,” he said.
He also explained that political habits are hard to change without deliberate effort.
“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,” he added.
Sowunmi further criticised what he described as entitlement within the party.
“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,” he stated.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the Ekiti governorship election for June 20, 2026, while the Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 8, 2026.
The electoral body has also released the timetable for party primaries, nomination processes and campaign activities, describing the exercises as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections. INEC said it is working on reforms to improve election credibility, including deploying Resident Electoral Commissioners outside their home states and strengthening the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.