The Convener of The Alternative Movement, Segun Showunmi, has declared that he remains a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but will consider the governorship slot offer from the Labour Party.
Showunmi made this known over the weekend while hosting members of the Ogun State Executive Council of the Labour Party, who paid him a courtesy visit at his residence in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, the state capital.
During the visit, the Labour Party executives formally appealed to Showunmi to contest the 2027 governorship election on the platform of the party.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, encouraged Showunmi to give serious thought to flying the party’s governorship flag in the next general elections.
Arabambi expressed confidence that presenting Showunmi as the LP candidate would significantly strengthen the party’s structure in Ogun State, broaden its acceptability and improve its electoral chances in 2027.
In his response, Showunmi appreciated the party leaders for their confidence in his leadership ability and capacity to govern Ogun State, assuring them that their request would receive careful and thorough consideration.
He explained that although he remains a bona fide member and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, he would consult widely before making a final decision and would duly communicate his position to the Labour Party leadership.
Showunmi disclosed that after conducting a critical assessment of individuals eyeing the Ogun governorship seat in 2027, he found that none could rival his political network, experience, consistency and credibility, maintaining that he stands out as the best prepared to succeed the incumbent governor.
He further noted that since joining partisan politics, he has never defected from the PDP, but added that the offer extended to him by the Labour Party was too compelling to ignore outright.
According to him, consultations would be held with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as former Ogun State governors Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, after which he would relay his final decision to the Labour Party in due course.
Showunmi also described the Labour Party as a resilient and distinctive political platform with the potential to win multiple elective offices at both state and federal levels, stressing that the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, significantly boosted its national profile and acceptance.
He added that Obi’s impressive showing in the 2023 presidential contest demonstrated that with credible candidates, the Labour Party could spring major surprises in the 2027 general elections.
