former presidential spokesperson, Segun Sowunmiformer presidential spokesperson, Segun Sowunmi
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former presidential spokesperson, Segun Sowunmi, has urged the party to urgently rebuild its internal structures or risk further decline.
Sowunmi gave the warning during an interview with Arise News on Wednesday while reacting to a recent Court of Appeal ruling that consolidated judgments on nine cases stemming from the party’s leadership crisis.
The PDP chieftain said legal victories alone cannot confer political legitimacy within a party.
Sowunmi said, “No court can confer legitimacy; it can only explain the law.
“If those who win in court believe that legal victory makes them ‘right’ in a political sense, they are delusional. Those who lost must be respected for their human quality, and the party must go back to the drawing board.”
Sowunmi attributed the party’s lingering crisis to internal shortcomings, particularly the failure to respect zoning arrangements.
“Precisely. If you don’t do the right thing internally, the court can’t enforce legitimacy for you. We are in trouble; there is a crisis of confidence,” he stated.
He also addressed the recent defections of some PDP governors, describing the development as worrying but understandable.
Sowunmi further stated, “It’s difficult to blame them for three reasons.
“First, many Nigerians believe in the ‘pendulum’ principle, that power stays in the North for eight years and then moves to the South for eight. Second, politicians fear unending litigation that can end their careers. Third, the PDP was never meant to be a party where one man sits at a high table and barks orders at others who may be his intellectual superiors.”
Sowunmi warned that failure to address internal issues could weaken the party further and create opportunities for other opposition platforms.
He said, “If the PDP doesn’t act right, parties like the ADC will take over the role of the opposition. We are watching a party that has existed since 1998 bleed to death.”
Commenting on the call by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for a national convention, Sowunmi cautioned that such a move could deepen divisions if not properly managed.
Sowunmi stated, “You cannot invite a sane person to a pre-arranged, pre-decided charade
“In the PDP, we usually know the zones and have conversations first. If this is just a ‘joke’ played on the field, it is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Sowunmi also stressed the importance of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to the party’s strength in the South-West.
He said, “If Seyi Makinde does not step foot in there, I will not go.
“You need a ‘poster boy’ in every zone to market a party. In the Southwest, Seyi Makinde is the only poster boy we have based on his developmental performance in Oyo State. If he isn’t there, what am I going to use to market the party?”
The PDP chieftain further called for a shift away from personality-driven leadership within political parties.
Sowunmi said, “We have created a culture where the President or Governor is seen as the ‘leader’ of the party, even though they were begging for tickets months earlier.
“Leadership must become a collegiate system that insists on a specific culture and ideology, rather than creating parties in the image of one man who only has an eight-year maximum.”
Sowunmi cautioned that continued disunity within opposition parties could weaken their chances against the ruling party.
“We are dealing with a ruling party made of seasoned politicians; if we don’t unify, there will be consequences on election day,” he said.
On economic issues, Sowunmi noted that rising crude oil prices have a direct effect on fuel costs.
He added, “If the price of crude increases, the price of petrol will too. The President must realize that no one has guaranteed him the next election. The pathway to defeat him is transparent.”
NaijaNews/ Tunmise Adesanmi
