Segun Sowunmi, a prominent figure within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reiterated his appeal for Peter Obi to rejoin the party, asserting that Obi’s political prominence stemmed from his association with the PDP and that his return is vital for the party’s prospects in the 2027 general elections.
During an appearance on Arise Television on Thursday, Sowunmi argued that Obi, who departed the PDP for the Labour Party before the 2023 elections, owes a significant portion of his national political recognition to his time within the PDP.
He stressed the importance of a unified opposition, stating that the party cannot afford to be divided if it aims to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress.
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“You have to first of all understand that Peter is our gift to the national play. Before he came to our party, he used to play only in a small party called APGA. Then, we brought him and made him special adviser, or some kind of adviser to Jonathan, which was his first foray into the national play. Then we made him a vice presidential candidate in 2019 with Atiku. That was what launched him into the big national space,” Sowunmi said.
Peter Obi, who ran as Atiku Abubakar’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2019 elections, left the PDP in 2022 and ran for president in 2023 on the Labour Party platform.
Despite initially being seen as a long-shot candidate, he gained considerable support across the country, presenting a strong challenge to both the APC and PDP candidates.
Sowunmi emphasized Obi’s strong performance in the 2023 election as proof of his political importance, implying that the PDP would gain significantly from his return.
“Now that he has gone to try to be president, we can all recognize and say, okay, we see the numbers. It is up to him to do whatever he can. If we did not give Peter that chance, how would we have known that Peter can do this,” he said.
Sowunmi reiterated his call for unity within the opposition, emphasizing its necessity.
“The PDP wants Obi to return because the party cannot afford to enter into a splintered arrangement that would lead to another defeat,” he said.
His statements come at a time when the PDP is facing internal challenges and defections, notably in Delta State, which have raised concerns about the party’s unity as it prepares for future elections.
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