“Atiku Cannot Be Bullied to Surrender His Presidential Ambition” — Sowunmi

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Otunba Segun Sowunmi has defended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s decision to pursue the presidency again, stating that no amount of public criticism or political pressure can force him to abandon his ambition. Speaking in an interview, Sowunmi dismissed ongoing debates about Atiku’s repeated bids for the nation’s highest office as misplaced, asserting that the Nigerian constitution grants every eligible citizen the right to contest.

Atiku, who has made six attempts at the presidency and was defeated by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in both 2019 and 2023, remains a central figure in discussions ahead of the 2027 elections. Sowunmi argued that political ambition is both personal and constitutional, and condemned attempts to pressure Atiku into stepping aside. “What I find a little bit curious is that instead of people to talk about how they win or even how they’re going to win the general election, they have devoted too much time into trying to bully a man that cannot be bullied,” he said. “If anybody tries to bully him, you basically do only to make him more resolute in his position.”

He emphasized that while political parties have the liberty to zone their presidential tickets based on internal arrangements, no legal or constitutional provision bars Atiku from running again. According to Sowunmi, past electoral defeats do not disqualify a candidate from future participation. He highlighted Atiku’s long-standing involvement in Nigeria’s democratic process, referencing his initial run in 1992 under the Social Democratic Party and his subsequent bids under the PDP.

Sowunmi called on Nigerians to focus on formulating strategies to win elections rather than attempting to limit who is allowed to contest, noting that democracy thrives on open competition and the free exercise of political rights.