Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Segun Sowunmi, has said former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has not decided whether to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Sowunmi, a former spokesperson for Atiku, said he had spoken to the former PDP presidential candidate about running in the 2027 elections but was yet to get a clear answer.

The PDP leader made this revelation on Monday in Abuja during the unveiling of the National Opposition Movement Coalition, a platform aimed at promoting a vibrant opposition as well as transparent and credible democratic and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 elections.

His revelation came days after a leader of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, advised the former Vice President to step down and let others lead.

Sowunmi, however, said the decision to run for president should not only be about Atiku, but also anyone with a heart for developing Nigeria and clear plans for the development of the country.

“After all, who would have argued that Tinubu, by giving away his pedigree and what he did, took everything away from him, would end up in the villa in trouble?

“So that means there is something beyond what an individual can do. Atiku didn’t even tell me he was running. I asked him twice. I will ask him again if he doesn’t give an answer. That’s it,” he said.

The PDP leader recounted his efforts to persuade former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, to run for president on the PDP platform in 2023.

“I know how much I have traveled the country just to persuade the people of South East origin of the PDP, especially Excellency Peter Obi,” he said.

“I believe we will destroy this country if we lead a country that gives the third stage of our independent struggle the idea that it cannot be president or that there will be a glass ceiling above its head.

“I traveled all over the South East, begging people and even visited Peter Obi more than five times until I told him to buy the form, let’s even see if the Nigerian people will reach you. I know they will.

“It was the journey. And when he wanted to go to the Labor Party, he didn’t tell me, but he didn’t have to tell me. I always commend him for daring to bring the conversation about the Southeast to the forefront.

“But I know that beyond the pedagogy of languages ​​like production, consumption, the building of a nation is a very serious matter. And I’m not saying I won’t even support him, but we have to support him on the basis that he can do the job. There is no point in designing an electoral campaign that would only arouse frustration.”

He said the new movement was created because of the “need to save our nation and our democracy from the danger we see on the horizon.”

He said the movement’s promoters had seen citizens’ enthusiasm wane over the years, with each election proving worse than the last.

Sowunmi added: “We have seen the electoral arbiter, INEC, improve its guidelines and operational manual. Yet rather than an increase in electoral integrity, we see a progressive lack of integrity and transparency in the electoral process.

“Our country’s justice system has not been spared as we have observed an unacceptable and dangerous erosion of the integrity of judicial institutions, which should normally ensure balance, check government institutions and protect the state from ‘a complete collapse.

“We have observed an increase in the activities of thugs, other non-state actors and violence, which adds to the challenges to our democracy. The reason for the birth of this movement is the need to save our nation and our democracy from the danger we see on the horizon.

“Respect for the principle of party supremacy is now at an all-time low. A viable opposition to defeat the activities of the government in place is almost non-existent.

“There is an urgent need for a platform to engage political actors, national stakeholders, academia, civil society, the media, political parties themselves, democratic institutions in other countries and all those who can contribute to the well-being and sustainability of our democracy. »