A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Dare Bejide, has expressed confidence in the rising political strength of his party, warning against underrating its chances in the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
Bejide, who is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the ADC, made this known in Ado-Ekiti while celebrating his 66th birthday alongside political associates, loyalists, friends, and party members.
According to him, the ADC is fast becoming a formidable force in Nigeria’s political landscape, attracting defectors from major political parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We are witnessing a daily influx of people into our party, especially from the APC and PDP,” Bejide said. “I am confident that when I clinch the party’s ticket, we will win at the polls. I was the pioneer secretary of the PDP in Ekiti, but the party has been hijacked by people I call ‘bad boys’. No one wants to wrestle with pigs. Similarly, the APC has abandoned democratic principles. But in the ADC, we are committed to conducting transparent primaries, which is something other parties struggle with due to their tendency to impose candidates.”
Bejide emphasized the importance of internal democracy, noting that transparency in the selection process would help avert internal crises. “Ambition can divide a party if the process is not right. But when there is fairness and openness, both the winner and the loser can walk away with mutual respect. That’s the spirit of democracy,” he said.
On his plans for Ekiti State if elected governor, Bejide said his administration would prioritize youth and women empowerment, infrastructural development, and economic revitalization through agriculture and skills training.
“Our population is dominated by women and youths. Any government that ignores them is out of touch with reality. I will focus on mechanized farming to attract young people into agriculture and establish skill acquisition centres in each of the three senatorial districts. We’ll ensure artisans like mechanics, vulcanizers, and bricklayers are retrained at no cost,” he stated.
He also pledged to surpass the 34% affirmative action benchmark for women in government appointments and address the state’s poor road infrastructure.
Also speaking at the event, a party stalwart, Chief Segun Akinwumi, said the ADC is preparing diligently for the 2026 elections.
“We now have a credible platform in the ADC and we are presenting a credible candidate. Ekiti people are tired of the current administration. In a few months, everyone will see that ADC means business. Ambassador Bejide is well-equipped to govern this state,” Akinwumi added.
With growing discontent over the status quo and increasing interest in alternative political platforms, the ADC appears poised to reshape the political dynamics in Ekiti ahead of the 2026 governorship race.
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