Segun Sowunmi, convener of The Alternative, has pointed to Peter Obi’s surprising 6.1 million votes in the 2023 presidential election as proof that electoral success does not depend solely on political structures.
In a recent TVC interview, Sowunmi highlighted how Obi, the Labour Party candidate, achieved this feat without the backing of any sitting governor, House of Representatives member, or senator before the election.
“Peter Obi truly did not have one governor. He didn’t have one rep. He didn’t have one senator up until that election. How did he get 6.1 million votes?” Sowunmi asked, using the example to illustrate what he called the “science” of elections.
He cautioned against underestimating voter sentiment, noting that Obi’s performance defied conventional political calculations.
Addressing Obi’s supporters, the “Obidient” movement, Sowunmi advised them to avoid excessive combativeness and tribal rhetoric.
“If you got 6.1 million votes without political structures, why not strategize better for 2027?” he said, urging them to focus on competence rather than divisive narratives.
“Cool down a bit, refine your approach, and 2027 could be a shocker.”
When asked about Nigeria becoming a one-party state due to defections into the APC, Sowunmi dismissed the notion, citing the 2023 election.
Despite having 13 governors, five PDP governors openly worked against their party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Yet, PDP still secured 8 million votes. “No single leader controls all votes in their domain,” he stressed.
Sowunmi warned that 2027 is not a foregone conclusion for President Bola Tinubu, despite APC’s growing dominance.
“Anybody who says 2027 is in the bag for Tinubu deceives him. It’s not in the bag yet,” he declared.
He emphasized the need to manage youth energy, grassroots mobilization, and external influences, stating that electoral outcomes depend on a deeper political “science” beyond mere structures.
His remarks serve as a wake-up call to both the ruling party and opposition, proving that in Nigerian politics, surprises are always possible.
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