A prominent leader in the Peoples Democratic Party has spoken out in defense of regional political loyalty, arguing that all parts of Nigeria show similar patterns of supporting their own leaders. The party chieftain also expressed disappointment with Peter Obi’s current political approach ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview with Arise TV, Showunmi pointed to the Southeast’s strong backing of Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election as proof that regional loyalty is normal across Nigeria. He noted that Obi received overwhelming support from his home region, with nearly all votes going his way.
“You did your election in the Southeast, and you gave your son 99% of the votes. Shall I leave my own brother in the lurch?” Showunmi asked. He argued that it’s unfair to criticize some regions for supporting their candidates while accepting it from others.
The PDP leader challenged what he sees as double standards in Nigerian politics, suggesting that when some people support their preferred candidates it’s considered acceptable, but when others do the same thing, they’re labeled as prejudiced or narrow-minded.
Showunmi revealed that he would be willing to support President Bola Tinubu if the president reached out to him directly. He compared this to how political relationships work naturally across different regions of Nigeria.
“I had actually thought that the President was going to say, ‘Okay, my son or my junior brother, whichever he decides to use, Segun, I’m done with this; your roaming around with other people, I need your support, come back.’ I would not have been able to say no,” Showunmi explained.
He emphasized that neither the Southwest nor Southeast has a culture of rejecting their own leaders when they seek support, suggesting this is simply how Nigerian politics operates.
However, Showunmi expressed serious concerns about Peter Obi’s political direction as the 2027 elections approach. Despite having high hopes for Obi’s leadership potential, he feels let down by the former governor’s current strategy.
The PDP leader explained that he had hoped Obi would understand how to effectively challenge the existing political system rather than working alone. He described Obi as his greatest disappointment as preparations for 2027 begin.
Showunmi revealed that he had given Obi a specific deadline to clarify his political plans. He told Obi that if his mind wasn’t made up by May 29th about his direction, he would be more inclined to support President Tinubu instead.
The PDP chieftain expressed hope that they could work together to challenge the status quo and unite the country, even if the outcome wasn’t favorable. He believed they could break barriers and demonstrate that there are no limits to what the Southeast can achieve politically.
The PDP leader also warned Obi against wasting the political momentum he gained from his strong 2023 performance by joining coalitions with established politicians who have been in power for years.
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He cautioned Obi about throwing away the benefits of being positioned as a leader who could represent both Igbo political interests and serve in a national capacity. Showunmi expressed concern that joining coalitions with the same old politicians while claiming to bring new leadership would be counterproductive to real change.
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