2027: Hayatu-Deen Strongest Opposition Aspirant – Showunmi
Segun Showunmi, former spokesman to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the last presidential campaign under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, as the strongest opposition candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections. Hayatu-Deen, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress […]
Segun Showunmi, former spokesman to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the last presidential campaign under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, as the strongest opposition candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Hayatu-Deen, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has emerged as one of the prominent opposition figures seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Thursday night during an interview on Arise News, Showunmi, who is also the convener of The Alternative Platform, said after reviewing Hayatu-Deen’s credentials and experience, he believes the ADC aspirant represents the kind of leadership Nigeria urgently needs at this critical moment.
According to Showunmi, Hayatu-Deen possesses the economic competence, technocratic depth and private sector experience required to tackle Nigeria’s worsening economic challenges and reposition the country for sustainable growth.
“That is the guy that has the best CV,” Showunmi said. “He is a breath of fresh air. I think he is quite brave to look at the political space and offer up his experience to serve.”
He further argued that Nigerians should pay closer attention to the ideas, competence and policy depth of presidential aspirants, rather than allowing national political discourse to revolve mainly around theatrics and personality contests.
Showunmi also reflected on the role of his former principal, Atiku Abubakar, acknowledging the former vice president’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999, while suggesting that the country may now require a different kind of leadership energy to confront its current realities.
According to him, although Atiku possesses considerable institutional memory and political experience, questions remain over whether the former vice president still represents the kind of leadership many Nigerians desire at this point in the country’s history.
Speaking on former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Showunmi said: “I think Rotimi is running on entitlement and ambition. He must have convinced himself that just because he came second in the last presidential primaries of the APC, maybe one more try may make sense.
“I have tried very hard to listen to him say some big things that can excite me, but I have not heard them. That does not mean he cannot, but right now, he does not move me.”
While analysing former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, Showunmi acknowledged Obi’s political energy and growing support base, but maintained that broader national consensus and coalition-building would remain crucial to any successful presidential bid.