Mediaplusng.com reports that as political activities heat up ahead of the 2027 general elections, former presidential candidate and PDP chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has endorsed an open and competitive presidential primary for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Hashim, through a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Hassan Mahmoud, welcomed the speculated comeback of key political figures—former President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi—to the PDP presidential race.
Describing their potential return as “a welcome development,” Hashim said, “The more, the merrier,” stressing that internal competition would strengthen the PDP’s democratic values rather than cause division.
He emphasized that the PDP was created as a broad-based national platform, open to diverse ideologies and aspirations. Recalling his role in the party’s formation in 1998, Hashim spoke of the democratic spirit that guided early PDP leaders, including political heavyweights like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi.
Mediaplusng.com further reports that Hashim hailed the inclusive leadership of the PDP’s founding interim chairman, Chief Solomon Lar, noting that the party gained strength from free and fair contests—not “backdoor consensus” or “gatekeeping politics.”
He cited the famous Jos convention of 1999 as a model of open primaries that brought together aspirants from across Nigeria, culminating in the emergence of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Hashim urged the party to return to its foundational values of openness and fairness to reclaim national relevance. According to him, “If Jonathan, Atiku, Obi, or others wish to contest, they should be welcomed. Let the best ideas lead the way.”
His call is seen as a strategic move to reshape internal party conversations and position the PDP as a credible alternative in 2027.
Mediaplusng.com will continue to follow updates on the PDP’s roadmap to 2027 and the emerging dynamics among Nigeria’s political elites.
