Tinubu’s influence doesn’t match Gbenga Hashim’s popularity in Osun — Group

Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant from the North Central region, is reportedly gaining increasing popularity in Osun State, with his supporters claiming that even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s influence does not match Hashim’s rising profile in the state.

According to the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, the former presidential candidate has become a household name in Osun, where a social media trend jokingly attributing a “fake hometown” to him—initially intended as a smear campaign—has gone viral and is now being described by the group as “free publicity.”

In a statement signed by its South West Coordinator, Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, the group stated that the PDP family in Osun, along with Governor Ademola Adeleke, stands firmly behind Hashim as part of a broader strategy to “rescue Nigeria by 2027.”

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“The opponents of the PDP who attempted to sow confusion on social media with misleading claims have only achieved the opposite. Their actions have strengthened our unity and elevated Dr. Hashim’s profile across the South West,” the statement said.

The group noted that this unexpected publicity has led to a surge in online searches for Hashim, with many Nigerians said to be discovering “the impressive record of a man of courage, principle, and vision.”

Calling the trend a “divine sign,” the group maintained that what was intended to discredit Hashim has instead amplified his message and positioned him as “a credible alternative” ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“With a united PDP and the people’s support, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim is well-positioned to contest for the presidency in 2027,” the statement concluded.