Following a string of defections in Delta State, prominent PDP member Segun Sowunmi has stepped up his calls for Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, to rejoin the party.
According to Naija News, Sowunmi made the appeal in advance of the general elections in 2027 because he thinks Obi’s return to the PDP will enable the party to unseat the current All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sowunmi’s appeal to Obi stems from his conviction that the PDP was instrumental in bringing Obi to the attention of the country’s political elite.
Speaking on Arise Television on Thursday, Sowunmi recalled Obi’s early political career, saying, “You must first realize that Peter is our gift to the national stage. He used to play exclusively at a little party called APGA before coming to our party. His first entrance into the national theater came when we brought him in and appointed him as Jonathan’s special adviser, or consultant of some sort. Then, alongside Atiku, we nominated him for vice president in 2019. That was the catalyst for his entry into the vast national arena.
Sowunmi emphasized the PDP’s involvement in establishing Obi’s political career, stressing that the party was largely responsible for his national exposure and subsequent political success.
Sowunmi praised Obi’s achievement in the 2023 presidential election, pointing out that the former PDP vice presidential candidate achieved a lot while running on the platform of the Labour Party, which was once viewed as a fringe party.
We can all acknowledge that he is now attempting to run for president and say, “All right, we see the numbers.” He is responsible for doing what he can. How would we have known that Peter was capable of doing this if we hadn’t given him the chance? Sowunmi asked.
The PDP cannot afford to remain split before the 2027 polls, hence Sowunmi claims that the party is keen for Obi to return.
He called for unity in order to successfully oppose the APC, warning that a dispersed opposition could result in yet another loss. He declared that the PDP could not afford to enter into a shattered agreement that would result in yet another loss.
The PDP’s larger plan to bring its members together and solidify its position in front of the next general elections includes Sowunmi’s demand for Obi’s return.
Sowunmi thinks that Obi’s return to the party will increase its prospects of victory in 2027 since defections in Delta and other states are causing confusion within the opposition.
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