Segun Sowunmi, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and longtime ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has voiced strong disappointment in former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. Sowunmi’s discontent stems from Obi’s perceived openness to a coalition movement being spearheaded by Atiku and other opposition figures in a bid to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Obi, who left the PDP in 2022 to join the Labour Party, emerged as a major contender in the 2023 presidential election, finishing third with over six million votes. Despite not winning, he remains a significant political figure, especially among Nigerian youths. His rising influence has made him a key target in discussions around forming a united opposition front ahead of 2027.
Atiku Abubakar has been pushing for a coalition of opposition forces to merge under one party or political platform strong enough to challenge and potentially defeat the APC. Reports indicate that Atiku has proposed a partnership in which Obi would serve as his running mate, with a promise that Obi would eventually succeed him as president. This proposal, however, has stirred internal friction, particularly within the PDP, where party governors have rejected the coalition idea unless it remains rooted in the PDP structure.
Sowunmi, while supporting the idea of a united opposition, has criticized both Atiku’s coalition strategy and Obi’s willingness to entertain it. He argues that the movement is being driven by individuals who merely want to capitalize on Obi’s popularity without offering him genuine leadership space. He believes the coalition’s current trajectory could undermine the PDP and weaken opposition efforts if not properly aligned.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’, Sowunmi described Peter Obi as his “greatest disappointment” heading into the 2027 election cycle. He expressed regret that Obi has not seized the opportunity to consolidate his national appeal by aligning with a stronger opposition base like the PDP. According to him, Obi’s solo political approach is unlikely to bring the transformative results Nigeria needs.
“My greatest disappointment as we are getting ready for 2027 is actually Peter. I had hoped that with all his seriousness, he would realize the need to move with a collective force to challenge the status quo,” Sowunmi stated. “Even if we didn’t win, at least we would have made a bold, united push and set a strong precedent.”
He also revealed that he had warned Obi earlier in the year that failure to take a clear political position by May 29, 2025, would prompt him to consider throwing his support behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next election. Sowunmi said he had urged Obi to not squander the gains made in establishing himself as a national figure and a credible Igbo leader.
“I told him Peter, the benefits we’ve achieved by positioning you as a leader of the Igbo political front within a pan-Nigerian context shouldn’t be wasted. But it’s his call. If he wants to follow this vague coalition path, I feel he may be abandoning the new order he once represented.”
While Obi has not officially declared his allegiance to the coalition led by Atiku, his presence at several of their meetings has fueled speculation about his next political move.
