Sowunmi unveils opposition movement to ‘rescue’ Nigeria’s democracy

Segun Sowunmi, a former governorship hopeful in Ogun state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has unveiled a “National Opposition Movement” in a bid to “save the country’s democracy”.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Sowunmi, a former spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar campaign organisation in 2019, said he has watched with “agony” the disappearance of ideological differences within the political parties.

The convener of the movement said the country’s elections at different levels appear to be about money.

“We have watched the electoral umpire, INEC, improve its guidelines and operational manual,” he said.

“Yet, rather than an increase in election integrity, what we see is a progressive lack of integrity and transparency in the electoral process.

“The judiciary of our country has not been spared as we have observed an unacceptable and dangerous erosion of the integrity of judicial institutions, which ordinarily should provide balance, checkmating institutions of government and protecting the state from a complete collapse.

“We have observed an increase in the activities of thugs, other non-state actors and violence at play, adding to the challenges of our democracy.”

Sowunmi said there is an urgent need for political actors, stakeholders, academia, civil society, the media, and political parties to contribute to the sustainability of Nigeria’s democracy.

“Those who have continued to pilfer our common patrimony, stealing the country dry, and persons of questionable wealth cannot seize the reins of power and authority of our beloved nation under the guise of democracy,” he said.

“This we must not allow to persist or endure. We are proposing an opposition movement which will not lend itself to chaos.

“Nigeria as a nation and its citizens cannot be manipulated into crisis by charlatans playing with buzzwords to deceive the citizens into mob action with its attendant consequences.”

The former gubernatorial hopeful added that townhall meetings would be held across the six geo-political zones to select leaders and draw members to the movement.