A prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Segun Sowunmi, has urged Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to the PDP ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that aligning with a more established political platform would enhance his chances of winning.
Sowunmi made the call during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye. He argued that Obi, who left the PDP in June 2022, would be more strategically positioned on a larger platform like the PDP, especially with the energy and support his 2023 campaign generated.
“If I were Peter Obi, I would return to the PDP and make a strong case for the presidential ticket,” Sowunmi stated. “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.”
While stressing that his views were hypothetical, the PDP stalwart emphasized that the party would throw its doors open ahead of 2027 and allow all interested aspirants to contest freely. He highlighted that despite the PDP’s broad national reach, the South East remains a region the party is yet to fully secure, presenting an opportunity for Obi.
Meanwhile, some opposition heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, have reportedly held early talks about forming a coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Reacting to these developments, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), has dismissed the coalition plans, likening them to mere content creation with no real political substance.
Speaking in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting where APC leaders endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, Adaramodu maintained that the ruling party remained unshaken. He praised Tinubu’s economic reforms and security strategies, asserting that they were already having a positive impact across the nation.
“Those planning coalitions are just entertaining themselves. Nigerians should not take them seriously,” Adaramodu said, urging continued support for Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda.
Obi, who left the PDP in the buildup to the 2023 election due to internal party issues, ran under the Labour Party banner and secured over six million votes despite lacking major political machinery. Sowunmi believes those numbers could double with proper party backing and widespread grassroots mobilization.
