Labour Party Courts Showunmi for Ogun 2027 Guber Race

The political landscape of Ogun State witnessed a significant tremor on Friday as the leadership of the Labour Party (LP) made an audacious move to recruit Otunba Segun Showunmi into its ranks. In a high-profile visit to his Ibara GRA residence in Abeokuta, the party formally offered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former presidential spokesperson its governorship ticket for the 2027 general elections.

The delegation, led by the Ogun State Labour Party Chairman, Oluwabukola Soyoye, praised Showunmi as a visionary leader whose political ideology mirrors the “Obidient” movement’s quest for transformative governance. Soyoye emphasized that the state is yearning for a departure from the current administrative style, asserting that Showunmi’s intellectual depth and “intentional” approach to policy make him the ideal candidate to fly the LP flag.

“We want you to come and join us in the Labour Party and be our governorship candidate in the next election,” Soyoye declared during the meeting. The offer marks a strategic attempt by the LP to consolidate its 2023 gains—where it emerged as a formidable third force—by poaching one of the most articulate and grassroots-connected figures in the opposition.

Showunmi, who serves as the Convener of The Alternative Movement, responded with a blend of professional courtesy and political calculation. While he did not immediately defect, he lauded the Labour Party for its “ideological stability” and credited former presidential candidate Peter Obi with revolutionizing Nigeria’s democratic engagement. He noted that the LP’s ability to secure over six million organic votes in the last presidential outing proved it is no longer a peripheral player.

Addressing his own readiness for the top job, Showunmi was unapologetically confident. “I have looked at the horizon, from the toughest to the least; I can’t find anybody who is more eminently qualified, more prepared, or more intentional about the policy of governance than me,” he stated. His remarks suggested a man who believes his time has come, regardless of the platform he eventually chooses to adopt.

The PDP stalwart also used the forum to critique the incumbent administration’s performance in the Gateway State. While he offered a rare concession that Governor Dapo Abiodun has constructed more kilometers of road than some of his predecessors, he lamented that Ogun has become a “signpost of bad roads” due to a lack of comprehensive maintenance. He argued that the state’s primary failure lies in the government’s inability to harness its “multiple growth poles” effectively.

Showunmi’s critique centered on the need for a leadership that understands the economic geography of Ogun State beyond mere infrastructure. He pledged to give the Labour Party’s offer “serious consideration,” a statement that will undoubtedly send ripples through the PDP, which is currently struggling with internal realignments and the defection of several key members to the APC and ADC.

As 2027 approaches, this development sets the stage for a potential realignment of forces in Ogun. Should Showunmi accept the LP ticket, it would create a three-way battle that could redefine the state’s power dynamics. For now, the “Alternative” leader remains a man in high demand, weighing his loyalty to the PDP against a platform that promises him an automatic ticket to the ballot.