A Political Reckoning: Segun Showunmi’s Stand on Allegations and Party Loyalty
Segun Showunmi, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, has recently made headlines for his decision to distance himself from Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023. Showunmi has emphasized that his choice to part ways with his former principal is a reflection of his inalienable right to make independent political decisions at any time.
Showunmi also defended his recent engagement with President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite being part of the opposition. He stated that such interactions are within his constitutional rights to association and political participation.
A Shift in Political Alignment
It is worth noting that Showunmi previously served as Atiku’s spokesperson during the 2019 presidential election. However, he stepped down from this role after the election, which was won by the late President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. This move marked a significant shift in Showunmi’s political trajectory.
Recently, Showunmi announced his intention to run for the Ogun State governorship seat. In doing so, he articulated his belief that power should remain in the South beyond 2027. His rationale is based on the need to ensure cohesion, peace, and stability in Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement. He argued that if the North, under the late Buhari, completed eight years in office, it was only fair for the South to retain power for another four years before it returns to the North.
Addressing Allegations and Legal Threats
Showunmi made these statements in a Sunday release while responding to Kio Amachree, the President of Worldview International in Stockholm, Sweden. Amachree had accused Showunmi of making unsubstantiated allegations, prompting Showunmi to warn that legal action may be necessary.
He described Amachree’s open letter as containing sweeping claims and threats without evidence, adding that it lacked factual basis and intellectual depth. Showunmi asserted, “Your attempt to police my engagements is equally misplaced. My visit to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, is entirely my prerogative. It falls squarely within my constitutional rights to association and political participation. It is neither your concern nor subject to your approval, and any attempt to frame it as improper is baseless and unsustainable.”
A Dynamic Political Landscape
On his political choices, Showunmi expressed no apologies. He stated, “I supported Atiku Abubakar under the Peoples Democratic Party because I believed in that candidacy at the time. That support does not bind me in perpetuity. Politics in a democracy is dynamic, not doctrinal.” He further explained his belief in the principle of power equilibrium between the North and South—eight years apiece—not as sentiment, but as a stabilising mechanism for governance continuity in a fragile federation.
Showunmi added that if circumstances require a different direction, so be it. That is political judgment.
Scrutiny and Legal Consequences
Showunmi also dismissed insinuations linking him or his engagements to any wrongdoing, describing them as speculative and unsupported by evidence. “Publication of an allegation is not proof. You are hereby put on notice that the repetition of unsubstantiated claims, particularly those imputing misconduct, may attract legal consequences,” he said.
He cautioned that continued publication of unverified allegations would be treated as actionable. Showunmi maintained that political legacy does not justify unfounded claims, stressing that while respect is due to family history, it does not substitute for evidence or intellectual rigour.
Influence Through Action
He added that political engagement and contributions on the ground outweigh distant commentary, insisting that influence is earned through action, not rhetoric.
