Otunba Segun Showunmi, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and convener of The Alternative, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election. The announcement was made during a visit to the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) secretariat in Abeokuta on Friday, where Showunmi called for a broad-based coalition among opposition parties to challenge the dominance of existing political forces in the state.
Showunmi, who has positioned himself as a grassroots-oriented candidate, stressed that governance in Ogun State should not be reduced to an arrangement that denies voters genuine choice. While acknowledging the right of political parties to endorse consensus candidates, he argued that such decisions must not be imposed in ways that sideline public participation. “I will be running for governor in the 2027 election,” he said. “I have come to plead with you to set up a small committee among yourselves to determine how we can collaborate to make this happen.”
He framed the upcoming election as a choice between competitive democracy and what he described as political “coronation,” urging stakeholders to prioritize the state’s future over entrenched interests. Showunmi also highlighted the historical exclusion of Ogun West from producing a governor, describing the zone’s aspiration as “quite legitimate” but insisting that legitimacy requires open contestation.
Advocating for an issue-based campaign, Showunmi distanced himself from what he termed “money politics,” challenging all aspirants—endorsed or otherwise—to a public debate on the future direction of Ogun State. “I do not believe that the governorship of Ogun is about sharing rice or distributing money,” he said. “Let us debate the future of Ogun and what the next level should be.”
In his welcome address, IPAC Chairman Comrade Abayomi Sanyaolu urged political party leaders to exercise caution in selecting candidates, warning that poor choices could have long-term consequences for the state. Similarly, Southwest Vice Chairman of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, emphasized the need for decisive action, stating that Ogun “deserves better” and calling for public participation in shaping the state’s leadership.
Showunmi’s declaration sets the stage for a potentially crowded and competitive race in 2027, with opposition parties and civil society groups increasingly focused on building coalitions to challenge the status quo in Ogun State.
