Sowunmi Dismisses ADC’s ‘Rescue’ Narrative, Points to 2026 Polls as Ultimate Litmus Test

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Segun Sowunmi has thrown a wet blanket on the rising profile of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), asserting that the party’s true political weight will only be determined by its performance in the upcoming 2026 governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti States. Speaking during a high-stakes interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sowunmi countered the narrative that the ADC is a viable “rescue platform” for Nigerians, suggesting instead that the party is currently fueled more by noise and internal entitlement than by actual electoral substance.

The veteran politician was particularly critical of the ADC’s positioning as a third-force alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections. He argued that political relevance is a currency earned at the ballot box, not through televised declarations or social media trends. According to Sowunmi, the Ekiti election on June 20, 2026, and the Osun poll on August 8, 2026, will serve as harsh reality checks for the party. He warned that the ADC would soon learn that the complex machinery of winning state-wide elections does not easily yield to what he described as a lack of ideological depth.

Sowunmi’s critique delved into the psychological and behavioral patterns of political organizations, noting that it takes a significant amount of time for a party to “purge” itself of the bad habits inherited from defecting members. He hinted that the ADC is currently “injured” by the same contradictions that plague traditional parties, specifically a sense of entitlement among new entrants. He noted with concern that some individuals are already demanding tickets and guaranteed positions even before they have formally integrated into the party’s structure, a trend he believes could stifle genuine growth.

The PDP stalwart urged caution for those already crowning the ADC as the main opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He maintained that human beings are creatures of habit, and without a radical shift in character and diligence, the ADC risks repeating the failures of past coalition efforts. For Sowunmi, the inability of the party to move past internal “conversations of entitlement” before even crossing the goal line of a major election suggests that its foundation may be more fragile than its leaders care to admit.

The backdrop to these comments is a shifting political landscape where the ADC has recently attracted high-profile figures, including Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, the son of the former Vice President. While the ADC has positioned these defections as proof of its growing appeal, Sowunmi views them as a collection of familiar political actors seeking a new roof rather than a new direction. He emphasized that the “rescue” mission the ADC claims to lead must first prove its efficacy in the rugged political terrains of the Southwest before it can be taken seriously as a national contender.

Sowunmi’s remarks also reflect the growing friction within the opposition camp as the PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP grapple with internal crises while smaller parties like the ADC attempt to capitalize on the vacuum. By highlighting the 2026 off-cycle elections, Sowunmi is essentially setting a deadline for the ADC to move beyond rhetoric. He believes that if the party cannot secure a significant showing or outright victory in Ekiti or Osun, its claims of being a “rescue ship” will be largely discounted as the nation heads toward the 2027 general elections.

As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) begins finalizing arrangements for the 2026 polls, the pressure is now on the ADC to translate its “generational statements” into actual votes. Sowunmi concluded his analysis by reminding political observers that the Nigerian electorate is increasingly discerning, looking for characters of integrity and institutional discipline rather than just a new party logo. For the ADC, the countdown to June 2026 has officially become a test of whether it is a genuine political force or merely, as Sowunmi suggests, another “injured effort” struggling with its own identity.