Segun Sowunmi, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has encouraged Peter Obi to rejoin the PDP in preparation for the 2027 presidential election, suggesting that this move could enhance his prospects.
Conversely, Yemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs and a member of the APC representing Ekiti South, has dismissed the efforts of certain political figures to establish a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 general election, labeling them as mere content creators.
Peter Obi, who was the presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, departed from the PDP in June 2022, citing a lack of opportunity to make “constructive contributions.”
In an interview, Sowunmi stated that “Obi requires a larger platform” as he moves forward.
“Looking ahead to 2027, the PDP of Nigeria will open its processes, announce when the forms are available, and anyone who feels confident enough to contest should step forward and do so.
“If I were Peter Obi, I would return to the PDP and make a strong case for the presidential ticket. I believe he should come back to the party. This party was originally conceived in the bedroom of (the late) Alex Ekwueme; so, I don’t understand why the Igbo, along with southern leaders and other influential figures within the PDP, can’t come together and say, ‘Alright, we recognize this, here’s the ticket.”
He remarked that if Obi could independently garner more than six million votes without the backing of governors or significant support, one can only envision the potential he could realize with the assistance of 12 governors and a robust grassroots network.
“We’ve covered every region, but we have not gone to the South East yet. Still, Obi is free to make his own decisions. If his numbers and the animated energy that is following him were to follow him into the PDP and he is the presidential candidate, I can guarantee you he would take the South East, South South, the Christian North and North Central,” he added.
The PDP stalwart emphasized that his comments were purely hypothetical in response to inquiries regarding potential political alliances leading up to the 2027 elections.
Recently, prominent figures in the opposition, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, have initiated discussions about forming a coalition aimed at displacing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
While addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, yesterday, during a meeting where the APC caucus endorsed the President for a second term, Adaramodu highlighted that within less than two years, Tinubu has launched programs and policies that have positively impacted the populace.
He commended the President for his decisive economic reforms that have revitalized the nation’s economy, as well as his comprehensive security strategies that, according to him, have effectively tackled insecurity in the country.
The Senate spokesman stated that the APC remains unfazed by the movements of opposition figures, characterizing it as mere political entertainment that will not hinder Tinubu’s anticipated victory.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the proponents of the 2027 coalition and to maintain their commitment and support for Tinubu in his efforts to realize his Renewed Hope Agenda for the nation.
