Olawepo-Hashim Vows Zoning Will Not Divide PDP Ahead of 2027
Former presidential candidate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has rejected the party’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, warning that such a move could fracture party unity and weaken Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking in Abuja at a stakeholders’ meeting, Olawepo-Hashim argued that zoning should not be the basis for leadership selection, stressing that competence, inclusivity, and national cohesion must take precedence as the country searches for solutions to its economic and security challenges.
“I will not allow issues like zoning to divide us. What Nigeria needs is not another debate about geography, but a leader who can unite the country, tackle insecurity, create jobs, and steer the economy toward growth,” he said.
The PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had recently voted to zone the 2027 presidential ticket exclusively to the South, sparking discontent in other regions, particularly the North Central and North West. Olawepo-Hashim, however, dismissed the NEC decision as inconclusive, insisting that only the party’s national convention holds the constitutional authority to determine the matter.
Drawing on past experience, he recalled that in 2000, a similar zoning decision was overturned at the PDP convention, adding that the same scenario could play out again.
“The NEC’s pronouncement is not final. It will be tested at the convention, and history shows that such decisions can be reversed when members insist on fairness and openness,” he noted.
Olawepo-Hashim also warned that zoning contravenes the Nigerian Constitution, particularly Section 42(1), which prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity or place of origin.
According to him, the practice not only sidelines capable leaders but also risks handing President Bola Tinubu an easy re-election pathway by limiting the PDP’s choices.
His remarks have begun to gather momentum at the grassroots. Stakeholders of the PDP in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have openly rejected the zoning arrangement and endorsed Olawepo-Hashim as their political leader. Leaders at the meeting argued that the North Central must not be excluded from producing the next president.
Support movements have also rallied behind his position. The Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM), led by Abdulrazaq Hamzat, dismissed claims by Prof. Jerry Gana that Northern PDP chairmen had agreed to zoning in favour of the South.
The group described the assertion as misleading and urged the party to prioritize internal democracy and merit over what it termed “regional horse-trading.”
In the same vein, a North West-based PDP group cautioned against what it described as “regional political warlords hiding under the cloak of zoning.” The group emphasized that the PDP’s path to victory in 2027 depends on presenting a candidate with nationwide acceptance, not one imposed by zoning.
Analysts believe Olawepo-Hashim’s defiance could redefine the debate within the PDP as the party prepares for its national convention later this year.
By positioning himself as a unifier, he has tapped into growing frustration among members who feel alienated by the NEC’s decision.
As the battle lines are drawn ahead of 2027, Olawepo-Hashim’s message remains pointed: the PDP must rise above zoning politics to unite Nigerians and provide credible leadership.
