PDP chieftain Segun Sowunmi sparks controversy, says Tinubu smarter than rivals

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, Segun Sowunmi, has ignited political debate following his public declaration that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is “smarter” than his political challengers, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi.

Sowunmi made the controversial remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, where he also addressed widespread backlash within the PDP over his recent visit to President Tinubu at his Bourdillon residence in Lagos during the Eid el-Kabir celebrations.

The visit, seen by many within the PDP as a breach of party loyalty, has sparked internal criticism and questions about Sowunmi’s allegiance to Atiku Abubakar, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. However, Sowunmi was unapologetic, defending his visit and stressing his political independence.

“I am at liberty as an adult to make decisions. I am not tied to anybody. I am not anti-Tinubu,” Sowunmi asserted. “I own my mouth, I own my words, and I own my arguments.”

He dismissed claims of betrayal and clarified that his alignment with Atiku does not mean he must unconditionally support the former vice president’s ongoing political agenda.

“Is he [Atiku] running for president now? He’s running a coalition that everybody knows I am not part of. Why would anyone assume I don’t have my individuality? Do you know how long I’ve been at the party?” he questioned.

Turning to the subject of governance, Sowunmi offered measured praise for President Tinubu’s leadership style, which he described as strategic, calculated, and more intellectually agile than that of his political rivals.

“By miles, he is smarter than them. He is smarter than Peter Obi, he is smarter than others,” Sowunmi said. He went on to criticize what he described as a knee-jerk culture of demonizing government policies without considering the complexity of governance.

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“I began to be uncomfortable with the demonising of all policies by those who don’t understand what it takes to design futuristic ideas that could work,” he noted.

Sowunmi revealed that his visit to Tinubu was partly driven by curiosity about the president’s health and mental acuity amid public speculation. According to him, Tinubu appeared sharp and fully in command of his thoughts.

“His brain is very alert, he is fit. You know when you are asking someone questions and he is answering without looking at a book,” he said.

Despite his conciliatory tone toward the APC-led government, Sowunmi firmly ruled out any possibility of accepting a political appointment under the current administration while remaining a member of the PDP.

“I will not take an appointment from this government. That would cross the line. I am still in the PDP,” he affirmed.

Sowunmi’s remarks come on the heels of similar developments within Atiku Abubakar’s former inner circle. In November 2024, Daniel Bwala, another former spokesperson for Atiku, stunned political observers when he accepted a high-profile appointment as Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Tinubu—despite his previous sharp criticisms of the administration.

As Sowunmi’s comments continue to trend across media platforms, political analysts say his bold stance could signal growing cracks within the PDP’s ranks and a broader realignment in Nigeria’s opposition landscape ahead of the next electoral cycle.