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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The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on the North-South power rotation ahead of the 2027 election.

He said President Bola Tinubu must complete two terms in office, insisting that the South should retain the presidency till 2031.

“Since Buhari completed his eight years, Tinubu too must complete his own,” Onanuga wrote in a post on X on Thursday.

He added, “All Atiku needs to do is to bury the thought of running again, as it is still the South’s turn in the 2027 election.”

The presidential aide accused Atiku of advancing a “self-serving argument” to justify what he described as an attempt to disrupt Nigeria’s informal zoning arrangement.

“This Atiku will never learn. Once again, Abubakar Atiku has put forward a self-serving argument to justify his attempt to disrupt Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement,” he said.

Onanuga further stated, “In 2023, as a member of the PDP—a party that, like others, practices zoning—Atiku disregarded the established formula and sought to succeed a fellow northerner, who had spent eight years in office.”

“His ambition fractured the PDP, leading to his resounding defeat at the polls,” he added.

The presidential aide’s reaction followed Atiku’s interview on Prime Time on Arise TV on Wednesday, where he addressed the zoning debate in response to questions about his potential 2027 presidential bid.

During the interview, Atiku dismissed claims of a binding national agreement on power rotation.

“No, I think this is an error and a mistake to say that there is an agreement on the issue of zoning in Nigeria.

“Let me tell you, the only political party that has a zoning provision in its constitution is the PDP. All the rest don’t have it.

“So if anything, all the other political parties are borrowing or learning from PDP’s zoning formula,” he said.

Atiku, however, said he supports the principle of rotation.

“I agree with the principle. In fact, I will even go further. Let me tell you what happened. In 2004 during the National Political Reforms Conference under President Obasanjo, there was an argument between the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who proposed rotational presidency,” he said.

On the balance of power since 1999, Atiku argued that the South had held office longer than the North.

“But if we are talking about the zoning formula in the PDP, the South has governed for 18 years and the North has governed for 10. So who is in a deficit if you want to be fair?” he said.

He also said he would support a consensus candidate for the 2027 election.

“The most practical option is to have a consensus,” Atiku said, adding that he would back whoever emerges, even if it is Peter Obi or any other aspirant.

Atiku further indicated that the 2027 election would likely be his final attempt at the presidency.

Responding, Onanuga described Atiku’s position as “dubious.”

“His political arithmetic is dubious,” he said.

“He conveniently overlooks the fact that the North’s shorter tenure was due to the untimely death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, which led to President Goodluck Jonathan’s succession.

“This accidental breach does not invalidate the power rotation arrangement between the North and the South,” he added.

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