2027: Why South-East May Struggle To Produce President — Sowunmi

Segun Sowunmi, convener of The Alternative, Peter Obi and his supporters, known as Obidients, are among the major obstacles to the South-East’s ambition to produce Nigeria’s president.

Sowunmi said the region needed to build political alliances across the country and reduce hostility towards other groups to improve its chances of securing the presidency in 2027.

He made the remarks during an interview on the Selah Meditate Podcast, where he discussed the 2027 general election and the prospects of presidential contenders.

“The biggest obstacle I see to the Igbo presidency is Peter Obi and his Obidients. Let me tell you why. Power must be negotiated,” he said.

According to him, the South-East should pursue broader political cooperation, beginning with solidarity across the South and extending to the Middle Belt and northern Nigeria.

He argued that winning the presidency in a multi-ethnic and multicultural country required strategic negotiations and relationships beyond ethnic and political boundaries.

“You can’t be asking for the presidency in a multi-ethnic, multicultural country when the level of bigotry and hatred and anger is too high,” Sowunmi said.

He criticised what he described as the hostility displayed by some Obi supporters, arguing that their conduct could alienate potential political allies and reinforce negative perceptions of the South-East.

Explaining his position, Sowunmi pointed to what he described as resentment stemming from the conduct of some Obidients.

“The quality of the irritation that his Obidients create all over,” he said.

He likened political leadership to military command, saying leaders had a responsibility to manage their supporters and prevent statements that could be interpreted as tribal attacks.

“A general has significant responsibility to manage his troops,” he said.

Sowunmi contrasted this with supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, arguing that they could make provocative statements without necessarily making them tribal.

He also questioned what he described as a contradiction between the economic influence of some Igbo businesspeople and their grievances over Nigeria’s political and economic conditions.

Citing their involvement in markets, retail, real estate, banking and privately owned airlines, he argued that their economic interests should encourage greater engagement with the country’s political system.

Sowunmi maintained that the South-East’s presidential ambition required coalition-building and constructive political engagement beyond the region.