Politics

The coalition only wants to take advantage of your popularity – Sowunmi warns Obi

Published

9 months ago

May 23, 2025

The coalition only wants to take advantage of your popularity - Sowunmi warns Obi

Sowunmi said that for the PDP to reclaim the presidency in 2027, they must explore every available means to convince Obi to return to the party.

Segun Sowunmi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, has warned the Labour Party presidential flag-bearer in 2023, Peter Obi, that the planned coalition is only interested in taking advantage of his popularity for the 2027 general elections.

Sowunmi made the declaration as he questioned reported plans to convince Obi to join a coalition of political parties spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, and other top opposition figures.

Several reports have emerged that Atiku has proposed Obi as his running mate in the coalition, promising to support the former Anambra Governor after a one-year term.

But Sowunmi questioned the coalition planners’ approach, labeling the movement a selfish adventure designed to favour a set of politicians.

The PDP chieftain said Obi should decide whether he wants the coalition to take advantage of him.

“The fundamentals by which you build a movement to rescue a nation can’t be predominantly too selfish. All that talks they’re making about coalition, they are just trying to take advantage of Peter Obi and it’s his business if he allows them to take advantage of him,” he said on Channels TV‘s Politics Today on Friday, May 23, 2025.

Sowunmi asks PDP to bring Obi back

Sowunmi also expressed admiration for Obi’s conduct since he lost the 2023 election, noting that he’s been making his presence felt in several parts of the country.

He also condemned the notion that Obi stands no chance of winning the 2027 election, insisting that such a conception only exists because the former Governor is neither a Yoruba man nor a northerner.

“After we lost the election in 2023, have you watched what he has done? Never mind that people criticise and I also sometimes criticise him, he’s been going to places. He’s been building boots on ground. He’s been doing things that somebody who really wants to run would do,” he said.

“If Peter Obi were a Hausa man or a Fulani man, would anybody be doubting the fact that he’s going to be the presidential candidate and he would likely win? If Peter Obi were a Yoruba man, would anybody be doubting that he’s a presidential candidate and he can likely win?

“If somebody can 6 million votes all by himself with a ragtag army of supporters and the Nigerian people, you want to do a Nigerian movement and we’re supposed to be discussing what?”

Obi left the PDP in 2022 to pick the Labour Party’s presidential ticket after complaining of massive bribery of delegates and vote buying in the party’s presidential primary.

Meanwhile, Sowunmi advised the PDP to explore every possible means of convincing Obi to return to its fold.

He said Obi’s exit and the rebellion of some high-profile stakeholders led by former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, led to the party’s defeat in 2023, and only a proper reconciliation can position the party for success in 2027.

‘’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.

‘’Any deep-thinking, fair-minded Nigerian man who is in the political party called the PDP ought to know that the greatest, necessary next step is to have the conversation about: ‘How do you bring Peter back’ now that the energy driving him is organic,’’ Sowunmi added.

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Politics

How Buhari shocked me 6 months into his administration – Oyegun

Published

4 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.

Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.

The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.

“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.

“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.

“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?

“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.

Politics

Electoral Reform: Dino alleges senate’s plot to rig 2027 election

Published

1 day ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.

The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.

In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.

He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.

Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.

Politics

Electoral Act: Nigerians have every reason to be mad at Senate – Ezekwesili

Published

1 day ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.

Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.

DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.

Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.

“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.

“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”