Otunba Segun Sowunmi, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has come to the defence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar amid growing debate surrounding his potential bid for the 2027 presidential election.
In an interview with "Vanguard", Sowunmi asserted that Atiku, despite his previous attempts at clinching Nigeria’s top seat, retains the absolute constitutional right to throw his hat in the ring once more—just like any other citizen.
Atiku, who is one of Nigeria’s most persistent political contenders, has contested for the presidency six times, including two unsuccessful runs on the PDP platform—losing to Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. With fresh political alignments and strategies beginning to take shape ahead of 2027, some observers have questioned whether the 78-year-old political heavyweight should step aside and pave the way for younger aspirants.
But Sowunmi rejected such narratives, describing them as misguided distractions that overlook both the democratic process and the legal rights of individuals.
“The decision to contest for public office is not one dictated by social pressure or media chatter—it is a fundamental right enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and the internal guidelines of political parties,” Sowunmi emphasized. “We waste precious energy trying to shame a man for exercising a lawful right when our real focus should be on building a winning strategy to dislodge the APC from power.”
He criticized the public discourse that has, in his words, devolved into “bullying tactics,” arguing that Atiku is not one to be easily swayed by such pressure.
“If anything, the more people attempt to corner or intimidate him, the more determined he becomes. You don’t bully someone like Atiku Abubakar. You only reinforce his willpower,” he added.
Sowunmi also underscored that political parties, including the PDP, reserve the freedom to zone presidential tickets in accordance with their constitutions and Nigeria’s broader federal character principle. He reiterated that unless disqualified by law or internal party decisions, Atiku remains well within his rights to seek the presidency again.
“The PDP has mechanisms in place to determine how its candidates emerge, and so far, nothing in our laws or constitution forbids Atiku from running. Let the democratic process take its course,” he said.
As Nigeria heads into another critical electoral cycle, Sowunmi’s remarks underscore a key tension within the PDP: whether to rally behind a seasoned political veteran with unmatched national visibility or embrace fresh blood to reinvigorate the party’s prospects.
