By Tajudeen Balogun
As the country gears towards 2027 general elections, a stalwart and erstwhile governorship aspirant of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Mr Segun Sowunmi, has advised the former ruling party to do everything within its capacity, to reconcile a former Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi back to its fold.
Sowunmi gave the advice while being featured in a Lagos based private television – Channels’ programme, ‘Politics Today’.
During the programme monitored by The New Diplomat, Sowunmi conceded that the internal wrangling and sudden influx of defections of the opposition members to the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), are self-inflicted challenges, hence, should have been sorted out a long time before now.
Sowunmi, a former Ogun State PDP Governorship aspirant, pointed out that there was a level of activity that you could blame your bullies for, still, asserted that there was a certain level of recurring – continuous lack of creativity that you have to hold yourself responsible for.
Sowunmi replied to his host during the programme: “One of the things that people do is fall prey to the frail nature of President Bola Tinubu. I know him for his intellectual capacity. He will look frail, but his brain is that of a giant, so most times people underestimate him to their own peril.
‘’The painful thing is that my own side is choosing to pretend that it is an easy material to defeat in politics. What do they know that he doesn’t know?”
The PDP stalwart’s call is amidst speculations that Obi, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and other strong opposition political personalities, have started discussions on how to form a coalition to contest against and wrestle power from the APC and President Tinubu, in 2027.
However, none of the two has come out publicly and clearly to announce an agreement to form an alliance – to contest the upcoming Presidential election.
Recall that Obi, who contested the Presidential election in 2023 and a former Anambra State Governor, dumped PDP in May 2022 for LP.
Obi then hinged his decision on alleged massive bribing of delegates and vote buying during the PDP party’s presidential primary.
‘’One of the people who was a PDP member, a South eastern man who felt based on the balance of play that the South-East was excluded, Peter Obi, was allocated 6.2 million votes, you lose the election, you run to the Supreme Court you lose, at least you were adjudged to have lost” Sowunmi recollected.
The New Diplomat checks revealed that even if Obi is willing to be part of the emerging coalition, which also comprises political gladiators such as: former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, his Osun, Ekiti and Rivers State counterparts – Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Chibuke Rotimi Amaechi, respectively, his camp (Obi’s camp including Obidients) might frown at the move.
As the permutations and realignment continue in all political camps across the country, The New Diplomat checks indicate that nothing is predictable yet, therefore, the pendulum can swing anywhere.
