Convener of the Alternative Movement, Segun Sowunmi, has questioned the depth and practical details behind some of the policy proposals being presented by Peter Obi as the former Anambra State governor continues preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
Segun Sowunmi raised the concerns during an appearance on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, where he discussed the emerging political contest and the possible impact of the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration on the campaigns of opposition politicians.
The discussion focused, among other issues, on whether the current political and economic situation in the country could strengthen the presidential ambitions of Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
While acknowledging the political attraction surrounding Obi, Sowunmi argued that much of the former governor’s emotional appeal was connected to the demand for political equity for the South-East.
According to him, the fact that the South-East has not produced a president in the current republic remains a significant issue that could influence how some voters perceive Obi’s candidacy.
“For all of this filibustering, jumping here, jumping there, the greatest thing you can bring to the table emotionally is the need for us to do equity for the South-East, because they have not been president, at least in this republic,” Sowunmi said.
However, he questioned whether regional representation alone could provide sufficient justification for a presidential campaign, arguing that candidates seeking the highest political office should also be able to explain in concrete terms how their proposed policies would work.
Sowunmi subsequently turned his attention to Obi’s campaign message, particularly the former governor’s repeated emphasis on moving Nigeria away from what he considers a consumption-based economy towards increased production.
Although the idea of expanding domestic production has featured prominently in discussions about Nigeria’s economic challenges, Sowunmi argued that broad policy statements need to be supported by specific plans covering funding, implementation, incentives and timelines.
He questioned what Obi’s production agenda would look like in practical terms if he eventually became president.
“In any case, what is he campaigning on? Peter is a master of campaigning on a prose that he doesn’t even know how to construct,” Sowunmi said.
He suggested that voters should be interested not only in the attractiveness of a campaign promise but also in the mechanisms through which a proposed policy would be delivered.
“When you try to listen deep, okay, what does he mean?” he asked.
Agriculture was one of the areas Sowunmi used to illustrate his concerns. He referred to arguments about the agricultural potential of Niger State and questioned how a federal administration would encourage Nigerians to engage in farming on the scale required to significantly increase food production.
According to him, it would not be enough for a presidential candidate to identify agricultural opportunities without explaining how farmers would be incentivised and how the government would finance the required interventions.
He asked how a government would attract people to farming, provide the necessary incentives and determine the cost and timeframe for implementing such an ambitious programme.
“By what magic is he going to force them to the farm? By what magic is he going to ensure? By what magic is he going to do the incentive? What is the cost component of what he’s trying to do? What is the time frame by which he will implement it?” he asked.
Sowunmi’s argument also extended beyond agriculture to the broader realities of running the Nigerian government.
He maintained that presidential candidates must recognise that implementing major policies involves several layers of government and cannot always be achieved through executive decisions alone.
He specifically pointed to the National Assembly, which plays a role in approving budgets and passing legislation, as well as the civil service, which is responsible for implementing many government policies and programmes.
“He will not consider that he’s going to have a National Assembly that has to pass the budget. He will not consider the bureaucracy,” Sowunmi said.
The Alternative Movement convener also questioned some claims associated with Obi’s record during his time as governor of Anambra State.
One of the issues he raised was the continuing debate over the financial position allegedly inherited and left behind by successive administrations in the state.
Sowunmi referred to claims that Obi’s administration did not leave debts, saying that subsequent administrations had disputed such assertions.
“All his successors from time have been saying that’s not the true position of thing, because we don’t want to get into a brickbat argument with him. That does not mean the things he’s saying are totally correct,” he said.
The remarks add another dimension to the continuing political debate surrounding Obi, whose supporters have frequently highlighted his record in Anambra State and his advocacy for increased production, investment and fiscal discipline.
Sowunmi, however, argued that political messaging should be subjected to scrutiny, particularly as politicians begin to make broader promises ahead of the 2027 election.
The 2027 presidential contest is expected to feature intense debates over Nigeria’s economy, food security, unemployment, infrastructure, public finances and the role of government in stimulating production.
For opposition politicians seeking to challenge the incumbent administration, the ability to convince voters that their proposed alternatives can be implemented is likely to remain a major part of the political conversation.
Sowunmi’s comments therefore focused not only on Obi’s political appeal but also on the distinction between presenting an attractive policy objective and explaining how such an objective would be achieved.
His intervention comes as political realignments and early campaign activities continue to shape the landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.