Prominent Peoples Democratic Party stalwart and former spokesperson to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Segun Sowunmi, has formally declared his intention to contest the Ogun State governorship election in 2027

Sowunmi made his ambition public during an interactive virtual session with supporters and journalists, where he outlined a reform-driven agenda anchored on security, education, healthcare and economic expansion

He said his decision to enter the race was motivated by what he described as persistent development gaps across Ogun, arguing that the state has not lived up to its potential despite its strategic location next to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub

According to Sowunmi, Ogun has repeatedly failed to fully harness the economic opportunities that come with being a key industrial corridor and gateway state He criticised what he called a culture of policy discontinuity, saying successive administrations had abandoned or poorly implemented programmes that could have transformed the state’s economy and social services

Sowunmi stressed that his vision is to design a state that works for residents in every community rather than for a small circle of political actors at the seat of power in Oke-Mosan He argued that inclusive governance, with clear benchmarks and continuity of impactful projects, is essential if Ogun is to compete effectively within the South-West and nationally

On healthcare, he expressed displeasure over the condition of public medical facilities, citing the historic Sacred Heart Hospital in Abeokuta as an example of underutilised potential He maintained that with deliberate investment and planning, Ogun could emerge as the healthcare capital of the South-West, attracting medical professionals, patients and health-related businesses

Sowunmi also linked insecurity and poor educational outcomes to weak governance structures, promising to prioritise human capital development, community-level security initiatives and modern infrastructure if elected

Although a long-standing PDP figure, Sowunmi acknowledged the internal crises that have plagued the party in Ogun and beyond He disclosed that he is closely watching political realignments and consultations across party lines and would, in due course, make a definitive announcement on the platform under which he will contest

His declaration adds a new layer to the evolving political calculations in Ogun State, where early positioning by aspirants is already shaping the build-up to the 2027 governorship race