ADC hopeful as APC, PDP clash over Osun, Ekiti gov polls

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The race for the Osun and Ekiti State governorship elections is heating up as the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party battle for control, while the African Democratic Congress says it is poised to make a strong impact in both states.

PDP National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, told Sunday PUNCH that both states are PDP strongholds and expressed confidence that the party will emerge victorious.

Meanwhile, ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufai, in an interview with our correspondent, stated that with the backing of the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ADC is set to take control of Osun and deliver a strong performance in Ekiti.

In response, APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said that with President Bola Tinubu’s achievements, the APC was poised to win Osun and retain Ekiti states.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun for June 20 and August 8, 2026, respectively.

Turaki said Osun and Ekiti residents, as well as Nigerians at large, were weary of the APC and desired the PDP to lead both at the state and federal levels, emphasising that its candidates would emerge victorious in a free, fair, and credible election.

He stated, “As you see, the two states, Osun and Ekiti, have always been strongholds of the PDP. They are yearning for the return of the PDP, and they will have what it takes. PDP is now a very formidable party. People are yearning for the return of the party at the national level and across all states.

“In Osun State and in Ekiti State, they want the party to be in power. We are sure that under a free, fair, and credible election, our candidates in these states will emerge victorious. Because people have now seen the difference between an APC government and a PDP government—they have tested the two. They know that the PDP is better.

“So, we are confident that our candidates will win these two elections. They are tired of the APC administration. They are not interested in other political parties but PDP. So we have a lot of optimism and confidence that we will win.”

On his part, the ADC National Youth Leader said the coalition party is strong in both Osun and Ekiti states.

He stated,”Yes. We are very strong in Osun and Ekiti. As you know, our National Secretary is from Osun, and the party is so strong that it stands on its ground—even the incumbent governor wanted to join the party. Because of the strong support base we have and the opportunities we see, we maintain our party stands.

“So, we are very hopeful that Osun and Ekiti State governorship elections will be good for ADC. Our party will perform well and even win. We are going to have victory in those states. Is it because Nigerians or these states are tired of the APC administration?

“Nigerians are tired of the APC. And that is a well-known fact. The inhuman policies that the government is introducing, also the unwanted borrowing by the government that is not yielding benefits for the right citizens—these are factors that work to our advantage. So, we are hopeful.”

However, the APC Director of Publicity said neither the ADC nor the PDP had what it takes to win the governorship elections.

He stated,”What is their yardstick for saying Nigerians reject our party when they are actually leaving their own parties? What is the yardstick for saying that they are going to beat our party when they are being beaten? What is the yardstick they use in showing strength in what they do when they are manifesting weaknesses by exiting the party that put them in office?

“I don’t know. Nigerians are not fools. They use reasoning to arrive at any decision they make. And these people are making foolish mistakes. APC will win those states, retain Ekiti, and win Osun. You see, all the indices on the ground are showing increased acceptance.

“What they fail to understand is that we work silently for peace—and we are winning, whereas they are always having problems that they cannot fix.”

Abdulrahman has nearly ten years of experience reporting on political parties, elections, religion, civil society organizations, the Nigeria Governors Forum, and more

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