Toyyibat Qasim
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has called on non-indigenous residents in Ogun State to mobilise massively for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Sowunmi made the call on Saturday in Abeokuta while addressing representatives of various non-indigene communities, including the Igbo Youth Association, Igede, Tiv, Calabar, Edo, Arewa and Igala groups.
He described the 2027 presidential election as an “election of life”, urging the groups to return to their respective communities and mobilise their members to vote for Tinubu and other candidates supporting the President’s administration.
SowunmiShowunmi, who is also the Convener of The Alternative Movement, has recently intensified his campaign for Tinubu in Ogun despite his association with the Peoples Democratic Party, saying, voters should assess the President’s performance before deciding how to vote in 2027.
He appealed to residents across Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West to participate massively in the election.
According to him, Ogun Central alone has more than one million registered voters, while Ogun West has over 900,000 registered voters.
“I am begging you in the name of God Almighty, let us mobilise until, if possible, we take the whole one million votes for Tinubu,” Sowunmi said.
He also urged residents of Ogun West to mobilise their communities for the President, stressing the need for a strong turnout during the election.
The politician said non-indigenes living in Ogun should consider the state their home, arguing that many had lived, conducted businesses and prospered peacefully in the state.
“Non-indigenes should regard Ogun as their home because many have lived peacefully and prospered in the state without discrimination,” he said.
Sowunmi further urged the groups to judge Tinubu’s administration based on its performance rather than allowing political differences to determine their choices at the polls.
He said the 2027 election should also provide an opportunity for Nigerians to demonstrate that no individual or ethnic group was superior to another.
The former Atiku aide cited some Federal Government projects in the Middle Belt, including a military base, proposed state police arrangements and road projects linking communities in Benue State with Abuja, as part of the developments he said should be considered by voters.
Sowunmi urged the various non-indigene groups to take the mobilisation message back to their communities and work towards securing votes for Tinubu and other candidates aligned with his administration.
Responding, the Chairman of the Non-Indigene Association of Ogun State, Egba Zone, Francis Nwaeze, pledged the support of the group for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Nwaeze said the association was prepared to mobilise its members and work towards victory for the President in 2027.
“We are your supporters, and we want to assure you that we will not allow you to fall. We are fully behind you and the reelection of Tinubu as well as committed to supporting your political movement,” he said.
He also called for a rally to publicly demonstrate the strength of the non-indigene support base for Tinubu ahead of the election.
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