A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has the constitutional right to contest for the presidency in 2027, regardless of how many times he has previously run.
Atiku, who has contested the presidency six times — including two recent losses to All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and Bola Tinubu in 2023 — continues to spark debate within political circles as the 2027 general election approaches.
Critics have argued that the 78-year-old politician should step aside to allow younger candidates take the stage, but Sowunmi, speaking in an interview with Vanguard, dismissed those calls as unwarranted pressure on an individual exercising his democratic rights.
“The first thing people must understand is that whether any human being will contest an election is a right granted by the constitution and the party’s platform,” Sowunmi said. “Rather than focus on how to win the general election, many are wasting time trying to bully a man who cannot be bullied. The more they try, the more resolute he becomes.”
He emphasized that Atiku’s decision to contest should not be a matter of public uproar but a personal and legal choice permitted by the laws of the land. “What law would you use to prevent someone from contesting when the constitution allows anyone interested to run?” he queried.
Recalling Atiku’s long-standing political career, Sowunmi noted that the former Vice President had participated in multiple party primaries across various platforms — including the SDP in 1992, the Action Congress (AC) in 2007, the PDP in 2011, and the APC in 2015 — winning some and losing others.
He concluded by urging political observers and party members to channel their energy toward strategic planning for electoral success rather than trying to disqualify individuals from exercising their constitutional rights.
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