PDP Chieftain Showunmi Criticizes ADC Protest as Ill-Advised Political Move
Otunba Segun Showunmi, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State and convener of The Alternative Movement, has strongly condemned the recent protest staged by members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja. Showunmi described the demonstration as an ill-advised and opportunistic action that undermines democratic institutions.
Protest Against INEC's Decision
The ADC members protested on Wednesday against the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) derecognition of the David Mark leadership faction within their party. The protest attracted high-profile political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, as well as former presidential candidate Peter Obi.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Showunmi acknowledged the protesters' constitutional right to demonstrate but warned against using protests as a tool to blackmail institutions into submission. He emphasized that such tactics threaten the stability of Nigeria's political processes.
Showunmi's Critique of Political Migrants
"Those now shouting the loudest under the banner of grievance are, in many cases, recent converts, political migrants who only just arrived, yet already demand to harvest where they neither sowed nor invested," Showunmi stated. He highlighted the contradiction in the ADC's actions, noting that many protesters have historically moved between multiple parties with little regard for institutional stability.
He accused them of attempting to strong-arm the system into granting legitimacy that their own internal processes and, in some cases, judicial rulings have not yet validated. Showunmi stressed that INEC is not a clearing house for political desperation and should not bend to street pressure, media theatrics, or manufactured outrage.
Defending Institutional Integrity
Showunmi reminded the protesters that where party constitutions are in dispute and matters are before the courts, INEC has a duty to stand down and not cave in to external pressures. He described the ADC's action as a calculated move by recycled politicians accustomed to exploiting weak structures, testing whether they can once again bend the system to their will.
"No country with any regard for institutional integrity allows a handful of itinerant political actors, however loud, to destabilise its processes," he asserted. Showunmi called for the rejection of such actions, arguing that indiscipline should not be rewarded with recognition and internal incoherence cannot be resolved through external intimidation.
Call for Due Process
To address their grievances, Showunmi urged the ADC members to follow their party's constitution, submit to the courts, and earn legitimacy through proper processes rather than protests. "Anything else is not democracy; it is opportunism dressed up as agitation," he declared.
He concluded with a firm stance: "The line must hold. Institutions must not blink. And those who seek shortcuts must be prepared to confront the consequences of their own choices." This statement reinforces his commitment to upholding democratic norms and resisting political maneuvers that bypass due process.
