Expressing his assurance during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sowunmi spoke candidly about his prospects in a potential contest for the PDP chairmanship against Saraki.
When asked about his confidence in facing Saraki, who is also considered a contender for the party’s top position, the former Ogun State governorship aspirant stated, “I’ll defeat him. I’ll question his actions during 2014/2015 when the party faced destabilization. I am confident in my victory.”
Sowunmi emphasized that if Saraki, hailing from Kwara State, were to emerge as the chairman, it would result in another party leader from the North Central geopolitical zone, which he deemed unfair to the South-West region.
The roster of past PDP chairmen includes Solomon Lar (1998-1999), Barnabas Gemade (1999-2001), Audu Ogbeh (2001-2005), Ahmadu Ali (2005-2008), Vincent Ogbulafor (2008 – 2010), Okwesileze Nwodo (2010), Haliru Mohammed (2010), Kawu Baraje (2011-2014), Bamanga Tukur (2012-2014), Adamu Mu’azu (2014-2015), Ali Modu Sheriff (2015-2016), Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi (2015-2016), Uche Secondus (2017-2021), and lyorchia Ayu (2021-2023). Umar Damagum presently holds the acting PDP National Chairman position following Ayu’s removal in March.
Of the 15 chairmen, six have hailed from the North Central region: Lar, Gemade, Ogbeh, Ali, Baraje, and Ayu.
Disputing the notion that the North Central region should exclusively hold the chairmanship position, Sowunmi remarked, “If the North Central believes that chairmanship is their inherent right, we in the South-West can counter that notion.” He further asserted, “Some of us have invested more than them, and we believe the party’s chairman should come from the South-West. If the youth support me, then we’ll meet on the field.”
Sowunmi underscored his belief in prioritizing stability over all else, stating, “In the current situation, caution is crucial. We mustn’t hastily embrace the idea that our solution lies solely in replacing the current leader.” He drew parallels to past transitions within the party’s leadership, emphasizing the need for a balanced perspective.
Responding to queries about whether he enjoyed the support of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Sowunmi maintained that Atiku was not inclined to disrupt the party’s equilibrium. He added, “The younger generation is buzzing, and my name is surfacing.”
