Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Sowunmi, has called on former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to the PDP to boost his chances in the next presidential race.
Sowunmi, a former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign, made the call during an appearance on Seun Okinbaloye’s ‘Mic on podcast’, on Saturday.
He said, “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 recognise this – here’s the ticket.’”
Sowunmi argued that Obi, who garnered over six million votes in the 2023 presidential election without the backing of governors or significant party machinery, could significantly amplify his impact if backed by a major political structure.
“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.
Sowunmi, however, clarified that his suggestions were hypothetical and not indicative of any ongoing negotiations between Obi and the PDP.
