Showunmi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, has called for President Bola Tinubu to remain in office through the current political cycle and receive support for a second term in 2027, arguing that economic reforms and long-term policies require continuity. His latest comments build on earlier public backing for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Continuity and economic policy
Speaking to supporters on Saturday in Itoko, Abeokuta, ahead of the 2027 general elections, Showunmi said Nigeria could not afford to replace its leaders repeatedly before their programmes had time to take root.
He questioned how any government could pursue an ambitious national agenda without sufficient funds, saying: “You cannot run a nation on an agenda that the country will not have money. If you don’t have money, what will you even be able to do?”
Showunmi said revenue was beginning to improve across the three tiers of government and that the change should be matched by policy stability. He said funds were now available at the local-government, state and federal levels, adding that national progress required Nigerians to respect what he called the “principle of the pendulum.”
He linked that principle to power rotation, arguing that voters should support candidates from the region designated to produce the next leader under the country’s established political arrangement.
- Showunmi said that when it was the turn of the Northern Protectorate, Nigerians should accept the candidate presented by that region.
- He said the same approach should apply when the Southern Protectorate’s turn arrived.
He maintained that democracy and economic advancement depend on consistency, pointing to countries that have followed development plans over extended periods. “We cannot be changing leadership every four years,” he said, adding that democratic government and the implementation of policy both require time.
Grassroots mobilisation for 2027
Showunmi instructed his supporters and local political organisers to begin preparations at polling-unit level ahead of the election. He said the initial work had already been assigned and that he would soon help establish a local-government structure, after which he planned to visit each of Ogun Central’s six local government areas.
He also said his political organisation would be extended into Ogun East, especially Ijebu, as part of his effort to campaign for Tinubu. Showunmi said he would take there a large structure associated with the PDP and developed under the supervision and inspiration of the late Buruji Kashamu.
Describing himself as a grassroots politician rather than a figure built around television or social media, Showunmi said his political work would centre on direct contact with voters. “I am a grassroots politician through and through,” he said.
Appeal to Yoruba voters
On the 2027 presidential race, Showunmi rejected what he considered premature presidential ambitions and said the incumbent should be allowed to complete the present political cycle. He warned that Yoruba politicians who were already presenting themselves as presidential contenders were wasting their time.
He also criticised politicians who, in his view, were using television appearances to promote unrealistic ambitions and wasting limited resources while claiming they could win the presidency.
Showunmi urged Yoruba voters to back Tinubu, warning that the region could face embarrassment if the North-East, North-West and North-Central zones delivered more votes for the President in 2027.
He recalled former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s electoral experience, contrasting the limited support he said Obasanjo received in 1999 with the broad backing he secured in 2003. Showunmi said the country was again in a situation resembling 2003, when “everything belonged to” Obasanjo.
Rotation, national unity and reforms
Showunmi said he had been among those who worked to establish a rotational power arrangement, but argued that avoiding immediate risks should now take precedence. He called for the country to overcome its current difficulties before pursuing another political shift.
He appealed for national cohesion, saying political disagreements should not divide Nigeria over the rotation principle.
As an example of continuity, Showunmi referred to Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years as president, saying the former leader served two four-year terms without being removed from office. He said Tinubu, whom he described as “our son,” was now working intensely to adjust the country and address its problems, and deserved the same opportunity.
He defended the administration’s economic direction while opposing alternative proposals that he believed could undo the reforms already under way. On fuel subsidy, Showunmi said Nigeria had examined the policy since 1973 and argued that its results showed it had not delivered the expected benefits. “If it had worked, wouldn’t we have seen it?” he asked.
The page also carried the following navigation labels:
- “Newer: Showunmi Backs Tinubu’s Continuity, Urges Nigerians to Support His 2027 Presidential Bid.”
- “Older.”
- “Showunmi Backs Tinubu’s Continuity, Urges Nigerians to Support His 2027 Presidential Bid.”
