Ogun 2027: Labour Party Moves to Draft Segun Showunmi for Governorship Race

The Labour Party (LP) in Ogun State has stepped into the 2027 political arena, formally courting Otunba Segun Showunmi, a prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, to contest the next governorship election on its platform.

The move was confirmed on Friday when the state leadership of the Labour Party, led by its chairman Oluwabukola Soyoye, paid a visit to Showunmi at his residence in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta.

During the meeting, the party urged Showunmi — convener of the Alternative Movement and a former spokesperson to ex–Vice President Atiku Abubakar — to defect to the Labour Party and carry its flag in the 2027 governorship contest.

According to Soyoye, the invitation reflects the party’s desire for a new direction in Ogun State’s governance, arguing that Showunmi’s political philosophy aligns with Labour Party’s ideology and reform agenda.

“We want you to come and join us in the Labour Party and be our governorship candidate in the next election,” she said.

Showunmi Reacts

Responding, Showunmi praised the Labour Party for what he described as its ideological clarity and internal stability, while also commending former presidential candidate Peter Obi for energising the party’s grassroots appeal.

He pointed to the party’s performance in the last presidential election — where it secured more than six million votes nationwide — as evidence of its growing influence and people-driven political structure.

Showunmi said he remains deeply committed to the development of Ogun State, citing its vast economic potential and the need for leadership capable of unlocking its opportunities.

He thanked the Labour Party for the offer and said he would give it serious consideration.

“The governorship eligibility for 2027, with every sense of due respect, I have looked at the horizon, from the toughest to the least, I can’t find anybody who is more eminently qualified, more prepared, more intentional of policy of governance than me among them all,” he said.

Critique of Governance in Ogun

The PDP stalwart also spoke candidly about the challenges facing Ogun State, particularly poor road infrastructure, which he described as a source of public frustration.

However, he acknowledged that the current administration has recorded measurable progress in road construction when compared to previous governments.

Showunmi argued that the greater weakness of the present government lies in its inability to fully harness Ogun State’s multiple economic growth poles, insisting that the state requires leadership with a deeper understanding of its development potential.

“The challenges he did not fully commit himself to is a deep understanding that Ogun State is a state that has growth poles everywhere,” he said.

As political alignments begin to take shape ahead of 2027, the Labour Party’s overture to Showunmi signals a growing determination to challenge the traditional power blocs in Ogun State.