Segun Showunmi, speaking during an
interview with Channels TV from 17:46, contrasted Umahi’s impressive data presentation with the PDP’s internal squabbles, warning that the opposition party faces potential collapse across key states. “Every election is a referendum. You are going to contest against the ruling party that is going to have to come to the table with what they say they’ve done, and they started that already,” Showunmi stated, acknowledging the APC’s early campaign positioning.
The PDP chieftain described his emotional reaction to watching Umahi’s presentation at the APC National Summit. “I almost cried when I saw Umahi reeling data out without even looking at the paper. I said, ‘Oh God, how did PDP lose this guy?’ I had spotted him for years; they don’t do that,” Showunmi lamented, expressing personal regret over the former Ebonyi governor’s defection.
He warned that the APC would present verifiable achievements while the PDP offers only recycled rhetoric. “Now, if they come and bring what they call their action plan and all the things that are verifiable, what will be what these jokers are bringing? They’ll be bringing their recycled claims that they are the new order, and you are expecting the Nigerian people to follow them,” Showunmi predicted.
The chieftain criticized the PDP’s focus on internal disputes rather than strategic positioning. “I give credit to a party that is serious and not one that in the morning they are quarreling about secretary, the next day they are quarreling about chairmanship. How can they be quarreling over nothing?” he questioned, expressing frustration with leadership conflicts.
Showunmi highlighted the absurdity of the party’s priorities given current challenges. “Aside from the fact that maybe they have an expectation that some people may buy forms there, what is the PDP damn quarreling about? What does it matter who the chairman is? What does it matter who the secretary is when we have an existential danger before us?” he asked.
The chieftain delivered a stark assessment of the PDP’s declining state control, beginning with recent losses. “We’ve just lost Delta. Do you know what that means? Of all the four states that we have that you can say when the chips are down they have the ability to structure and fund anything, Delta is one of them, and Rivers is one of them,” Showunmi revealed.
He warned of potential further losses if internal conflicts continue. “And from what I’m hearing from the grapevine, if they dare finish the quarrel between Wike and Fubara, like I have counseled now, we’re even running the risk that those ones will not even be with the party. Then you are going to lose Akwa Ibom. The only one that will be standing, which I know is not going to really stand, is Bayelsa. And you think that the party that is facing that kind of problem should be arguing about who’s probably the secretary?”
Segun Showunmi
