Convener of the Alternative Movement, Segun Sowunmi, has questioned the substance and implementation details of some of Peter Obi’s campaign proposals ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Sowunmi made the remarks while appearing on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, where he was asked whether the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration had strengthened the campaigns of Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
He said one of the strongest emotional arguments around Obi’s political appeal was the call for greater political equity for the South-East, which has not produced a president in the current republic.
“For all of this filibustering, jumping here, jumping there, the greatest thing you can bring to the table emotionally is the need for us to do equity for the South-East, because they have not been president, at least in this republic,” Sowunmi said.
However, he questioned some of Obi’s claims about governance and his record as former governor of Anambra State.
Sowunmi referred to the ongoing dispute over the state’s financial obligations under successive administrations, noting that Obi’s claim that his administration did not leave debts has been challenged by officials who came after him.
“All his successors from time have been saying that’s not the true position of thing, because we don’t want to get into a brickbat argument with him. That does not mean the things he’s saying are totally correct,” he said.
He then questioned the details behind Obi’s campaign message and policies, particularly his emphasis on moving Nigeria from consumption to production.
“In any case, what is he campaigning on? Peter is a master of campaigning on a prose that he doesn’t even know how to construct,” Sowunmi said.
He argued that broad policy statements require clearer explanations of how they would be funded and implemented.
“When you try to listen deep, okay, what does he mean?” he asked.
Sowunmi also questioned proposals concerning agriculture and the potential for increased farming in Niger State, asking how a future government would persuade people to farm at the scale being proposed and provide the necessary incentives.
“By what magic is he going to force them to the farm? By what magic is he going to ensure? By what magic is he going to do the incentive? What is the cost component of what he’s trying to do? What is the time frame by which he will implement it?” he asked.
He further argued that presidential campaign promises must take into account the constitutional and institutional processes required to implement government policies, including the role of the National Assembly and the civil service.
“He will not consider that he’s going to have a National Assembly that has to pass the budget. He will not consider the bureaucracy,” Sowunmi said.
His comments come as political parties and presidential candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election. Sowunmi has previously made comments on Obi and other opposition figures and has more recently publicly supported President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
