An Ogun State chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and Convener of The Alternative Movement, Segun Showunmi, on Friday sought the support of the state chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee for a coalition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Showunmi specifically said that with the consensus arrangement of the ruling All Progressives Congress to field the senator representing Ogun West, Sen. Solomon Adeola, fondly called Yayi, as its governorship candidate, IPAC, the umbrella body of all political parties in the state, must be ready to form a coalition to challenge what he described as an “APC coronation”.

The PDP chieftain also reaffirmed his determination to contest for the Ogun State governorship seat in the forthcoming 2027 elections, maintaining that the support of IPAC members in the state would be helpful in realising his ambition.

Showunmi explained that, having lived in the state for over 25 years and being part of governance conversations at both state and national levels, he has a blueprint of what could be done to fix governance lapses in the state.

He stated that while the aspiration of Ogun West Senatorial District to produce the first governor of the state since its creation 50 years ago may be valid, it must not be automatic, such that the people of the state are left without a better alternative to what the APC would offer.

Showunmi disclosed this on Friday when he visited the IPAC secretariat in Abeokuta.

He said IPAC must always be ready to protect multi-party democracy such that people would always have a healthy choice in deciding who occupies positions of governance, while upholding the belief that “the best of us should lead the rest of us.”

Showunmi also said that some parties, such as the Labour Party, Action Alliance, New Nigeria Peoples Party, among others, have identified with his governorship ambition, adding that he would be willing to work with any coalition arrangement as agreed by IPAC leadership in the state.

He explained, “As we now proceed towards the 2027 cycle, the question then is: will Ogun put itself in a scenario of a coronation without the richness of electoral conversation on issues? Should we truly allow that? You have been hearing me speak on issues in the state. You have been hearing me speak on issues in the country. I have spoken on the issue of the pendulum so that we have fairness and balance.

“You have heard me speak on the legitimate agitation of the tripod in our state because we run three senatorial districts, under which the West Senatorial District, ironically, in 50 years has not been able to produce a governor. Therefore, their aspiration is quite legitimate.

“However legitimate and persuasive an aspiration may be, it ceases to be an aspiration if there is no contest. Therefore, let me say to you very clearly that my name is Anthony Oluwasegun Adeyemi Showunmi, and I will be running for governor in the 2027 governorship election.

“I have come to you today to ask and plead with you to set up a small committee among yourselves and determine how we can collaborate to make this happen. It is clear that even the big parties are fumbling. It is clear that they have entrapped themselves in a lot of legal cases that make the situation difficult. No one party can carry it alone.

“I have come to you today to encourage you to empanel a small committee among yourselves. Look at the parties—Labour Party, Boot Party, AA, NNPP—and let us figure out how we can create a platform, determine which of the parties is most unencumbered, and then engage in dialogue on governance in Ogun State. I do not believe that the governance of Ogun can be dashed. I do not believe that governance is about giving rice or sharing money; it must be about intentional leadership.”

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of IPAC, Ogun State Council, Abayomi Sanyaolu, while welcoming Showunmi, urged chairmen of political parties to exercise caution before aligning with the ambition of any politician, warning that consequences could arise later.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned President Bola Tinubu to be concerned about a possible electoral defeat in 2027, saying that widespread hardship and worsening living conditions have eroded public confidence in his administration’s policies.

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said Tinubu appears increasingly detached from the realities of hardship, insecurity, and widespread frustration confronting millions of Nigerians.

Reacting to criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Peter Obi (Anambra) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), among other African Democratic Congress leaders during their April 14 national convention, President Tinubu said he cannot be intimidated, while accusing the coalition figures of trying to privatise the ADC and describing their gathering as a “street convention.”

In response, the ADC described the President’s comments as unpresidential, alleging that he appears more focused on politics while many Nigerians continue to grapple with worsening poverty and increasing vulnerability to insurgency and kidnappings.

The party stated, “The African Democratic Congress has taken note of the comments made by Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa concerning the ADC and the state of the opposition. What Nigerians saw was not the confidence of a leader in control. It was the anxiety of a President increasingly disconnected from the reality of hardship, insecurity, and frustration facing millions of citizens.

“At a time when families are battling a historic cost-of-living crisis, food inflation, rising debt burdens, and collapsing purchasing power, the President chose to mock the opposition instead of addressing the suffering of Nigerians. However, even as he spoke, reports of children being abducted from examination centres were circulating. This is the reality of today’s Nigeria, insecurity spreading deeper into everyday life while the government appears distracted.

“The President should not be ridiculing the opposition. He should be deeply concerned that the majority of Nigerians have rejected his government, whose ill-conceived policies have ruined lives and destroyed livelihoods. These are the reasons he should be scared, because the people are determined to vote him out.”

ADC also dismissed what they described as a misleading account of the party’s National Convention.

It added, “We did not hold our convention on the street. If that was the story supplied to the President by agents of disruption, then he has been misinformed.

“But even if any opposition party were forced to gather outside established venues, Nigerians would understand why. Under this administration, democratic space has shrunk significantly. No government before now had denied political parties fair access to public venues such as Eagle Square, a national civic ground that belongs to all Nigerians, not to any ruling party.

“The President also cannot preach separation of powers while simultaneously assuming the role of interpreter of the law, political referee, and commentator on judicial matters. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot be a President and a judge at the same time.

“If this administration truly respected the separation of powers, Nigerians would not have witnessed the repeated weakening and humiliation of institutions meant to serve as checks and balances. The legislature, in particular, has too often appeared reduced to an extension of executive convenience.”

The party also accused the President of recently trying to win over supporters of the late Muhammadu Buhari, saying it was hypocritical to distance himself from Buhari’s record in the past only to reverse course ahead of the election.

It added, “The issue before the country today is simple: hardship is rising, insecurity is worsening, debt is mounting, and hope is fading. No amount of political theatre can hide that truth.

“The ADC remains focused on building a credible alternative anchored on competence, security, prosperity, and democratic freedom. Nigerians deserve better than excuses, propaganda, and power games.”

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A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said his experience in governance and infrastructure development positions him to address Nigeria’s challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Amaechi, who spoke on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television on Friday, said he understands the country’s problems and has the capacity to solve them.

“I don’t care who else is running. I’m running because I’m a Nigerian candidate. Because I know the Nigerian problem. And I can solve the Nigerian problem,” he said.

The former Rivers State governor cited projects executed during his time in office, including rail lines and port development, as evidence of his capacity.

He also claimed to have tackled insecurity while serving in government, adding that his record sets him apart from other contenders.

Amaechi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, criticised the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu, saying the economic situation had worsened.

According to him, many Nigerians are experiencing hardship and are dissatisfied with the state of the economy.

“Everybody is suffering, everybody is looking for food to eat. People can’t buy fuel, can’t travel. The airlines are threatening to increase the cost of transportation; everything is skyrocketing.

“For Christ’s sake, President Tinubu does not have the right to speak, he doesn’t. He promised power and said if he doesn’t give power, they should not vote for him. Nigerians are waiting to vote him out,” he said.

Amaechi also alleged attempts to weaken opposition parties, urging that institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and the judiciary be allowed to operate independently.

“Whether free, fair or not free, if we [ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election. The problem is he does not want a strong candidate on the ballot,” Amaechi stated.

Amaechi is among several prominent figures in the ADC positioning for the 2027 presidential race.

Other key figures in the opposition coalition include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential election.

The commission also scheduled party primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, during which political parties are expected to select their candidates.

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