Ogun PDP chieftain woos IPAC, seeks coalition against APC’s consensus gov bid

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.