Segun Sowunmi, a close associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has distanced himself from Atiku’s potential presidential ambition in 2027. This comes in the wake of his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Tonight, Sowunmi, a longstanding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated that he was not aware whether Atiku would be running for president again. Atiku has been at the forefront of efforts to form an opposition coalition aimed at defeating President Tinubu in the next general election.
However, Sowunmi said he was not involved in Atiku’s current political engagements. When asked if his meeting with Tinubu signaled a betrayal of Atiku, he responded, “Is he running for president now? He is running a coalition that everybody knows I am not part of.”
On whether he informed Atiku before meeting the president, Sowunmi defended his decision, asserting his independence within the party. “Why would you even in your wildest dream think that I don’t have my individuality? I’ve been in the party since the beginning. I’ve never left. I won’t say the same about them,” he said.
He also clarified that if he intended to work with President Tinubu, he would formally exit the PDP. “If I am going to work with the president, I am going to leave the PDP completely,” he said.
Sowunmi added that he would prefer his meeting with Tinubu not to be interpreted solely through the lens of his relationship with Atiku, saying he would be “very happy” if it were viewed independently.
