PDP Chieftain Critiques Governors' Control Over Party

Segun Showunmi, a chieftain of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, expressed concerns regarding the grip that presidents and governors have on party leadership, stating that this trend undermines Nigeria's democratic culture. He warned that if this practice continues, it will weaken political institutions and fuel internal crises across parties in the country.

Showunmi highlighted that the situation became entrenched during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, where party leadership was often dictated by governors at the state level. He explained that this arrangement contradicts democratic norms, making it difficult for individual candidates to secure support from grassroots members.

Showunmi described the current state of affairs as an anomaly, where elected candidates claim absolute control over the party, which he views as detrimental to internal democracy. He called for reforms to separate executive authority from party management to rebuild the party's independence and strengthen Nigeria's political institutions.