Segun Sowunmi, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former spokesman to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has expressed deep disappointment in Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his perceived handling of opposition coalition talks ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Sowunmi criticized Obi for failing to leverage his growing popularity to align with Nigeria’s main opposition force, suggesting that the former Anambra State governor has instead allowed himself to be swayed by self-serving political movements.
“My greatest disappointment as we are getting ready for 2027 is actually Peter,” Sowunmi stated. “I had hoped in all of his seriousness that Peter would understand that we can challenge the status quo, not by going solo, but by uniting under a credible platform.”
He accused Obi of turning a potential unifying movement into a fragmented adventure, warning that the politicians leading the coalition efforts were only seeking to ride on Obi’s popularity for their own gain.
Sowunmi further disclosed that he had advised Peter Obi to clarify his political direction by May 29, 2024, or risk losing support. “If your mind is not made up by May 29 this year on what you want to do, I’m going to be more inclined to support Asiwaju [President Bola Tinubu],” he revealed.
He stressed that Peter Obi had a unique opportunity to emerge as a pan-Nigerian leader and a rallying figure for the South East, but may now be squandering that chance.
Peter Obi, who left the PDP for the Labour Party in 2022, secured over six million votes in the 2023 presidential election and remains a highly influential figure, particularly among young Nigerians.
