2027: Gbenga Hashim faults PDP for zoning presidential ticket to South

The dust has still not settled over the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

On Wednesday, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, one of the aspirants from the North, continued his protest over the decision.

Gbenga Hashim said on Wednesday that he would petition the National Convention of the party to decide on the matter, insisting that the convention would have the last say.

ALSO READ: Jonathan will win 2027 presidential election if… – Cleric 

Gbenga Hashim has been consistent in opposing PDP zoning arrangement since Monday when the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party took the decision.

According to him, in the past, there were cases where the convention had overturned the decision of NEC on issues affecting the party.

The development came as the stakeholders of the party in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also opposed the zoning of the presidential slot to the South.

Speaking in Abuja, Gbenga Hashim, a 2007 governorship contestant in Kwara State, noted, “This zoning decision will not stand. In the year 2000, the NEC made a decision to extend the tenure of the National Working Committee, NWC led by Engr. Barnabas Gemade from two years to four years. I was then the Deputy National Publicity Secretary.

”I led the G54 members of the NEC, and we tabled our petition to the national convention and the decision of the decision of the NEC was turned down.”

“Zoning the party’s presidential ticket to either North or South is undemocratic. It would serve the party no good to shut some people out.”

Gbenga Hashim, argued further, “In 1999, (former President) Olusegun Obasanjo contested against (the late) Alex Ekwueme and Abubakar Romi. In 2003, again, Obasanjo contested against Ekwueme and Rimi.

”Even most recently, President Bola Tinubu in the APC contested against 14 other presidential aspirations and Tinubu won. Why should the PDP zone its presidential ticket to the South where some persons would be zoned out? That is not democratic and it’s not constitutional.

”The last has not been heard on this unconstitutional zoning by the 102nd NEC; the legality would be tested at the national convention. As was the case in 2000, when the convention overruled the NEC, so, it would be at the Ibadan national convention, since it is an elective convention where issues would be voted on.

”Let there be an open contest based on competence in the management of our economic challenges as well as who can manage our security challenges. Nigeria is bleeding and there would be no need to be chanting any primordial sentiments and interests. Nigeria needs the best.”

The aspirant stated that anyone seeking to be the president of the country must be prepared for an open election.

He said, ”Anyone afraid of an open contest is not fit to be President of Nigeria. That person is not a president of the south or north alone, we are talking of the president of Nigeria. So, we are calling for the best for Nigeria.”

Amid the rejection of the PDP zoning by Gbenga Hashim, some members in the FCT chapter also opposed the decision on Wednesday.

About 170 stakeholders in the territory, including council and ward chairmen, gathered in Abuja where they made their position known.

The stakeholders, who said they would prefer the presidential candidate of the party to come from the North-Central, declared their support for Olawepo-Hashim.

“The national chairman himself said zoning does not mean others cannot contest. We in the North-Central are fully behind Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim”, one of the speakers, Chief Soko Dobo, said.

Responding, Olawepo-Hashim appreciated the PDP leaders and supporters for backing him, giving them assurances that he would not fail them.

He spoke more, “I have no intention of backing down. No party can close its doors to any Nigerian’s aspiration. The North-Central has never produced a President or Vice President, and it will be unfair to deny us the chance now.”