A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, has launched a sharp critique against Peter Obi, accusing the former presidential candidate of wanting to avoid the competitive process of a party primary.
Sowunmi made these remarks during an interview on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM, following the PDP’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
While acknowledging that the PDP “owes the South-East a debt” by never having given the Igbo a presidential ticket, Sowunmi claimed his previous advice for Obi to return to the PDP was ignored.
He argued that Obi’s reluctance to face a primary election is a critical flaw. “Peter thinks he’s too clever, he never wants to do primaries, and anybody who doesn’t want to do primaries is looking for somebody to cheat on his behalf,” Sowunmi stated. He emphasized that primaries are the essential foundation of a party’s internal democracy.
Sowunmi also criticized Obi’s leadership of the Labour Party (LP), suggesting he “could not manage” the platform he was given for the 2023 election, where he ran unopposed for the LP ticket.
His comments conclude with a stark warning: “Nigeria cannot be waiting for Peter. If Peter can’t be president as an Igbo person, one day we will find an Igbo person.” This highlights the ongoing political calculations within opposition parties as they position themselves for the 2027 elections.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
