A former presidential candidate and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has reacted to the party’s decision to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the south.
On Monday, the national executive committee (NEC) of the PDP zoned the presidential ticket for the 2027 election to the south.
The party added that it is committed to democracy, to defending the interests and well-being of all citizens, and to working hard to regain power in 2027.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, Olawepo-Hashim described the move as “a big error” that could undermine the unity of the country.
“What the decision means is that if you are a northerner, you should find another party,” he said.
“While past leaders of the PDP, even when they preferred a certain president from a certain region of the country to emerge, would rather use their votes at the convention to speak for them.
“Past leaders would never shut the door against any region, because they knew the implication of it for the unity of the country.
“I believe that NEC has made a big error. I’m not saying that they didn’t do it, they did it by majority, it was quite democratic, all the organs of the party decided, but they made a big error.
“The constitution of Nigeria does not allow you to discriminate against a party member when it comes to elective positions on account of where he comes from. It’s a major constitutional issue.”
Olawepo-Hashim said the PDP can still correct itself, adding that any member excluded by the zoning policy could challenge it in court — which might disqualify the party’s candidates.
He also said the push for zoning to the south is “tied” to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“This is my own position: to zone the presidency to the south is a default campaign for the return of President Asiwaju,” Olawepo-Hashim said.
“Because those who are mounting the campaign for zoning to the south are the same people who are saying ‘we are in PDP but we are committed to Tinubu’s re-election’. It’s a default campaign for the PDP not to have a viable candidate by those people.
“Those who are saying it must be automatically zoned to the south, and who are also championing President Asiwaju’s re-election, are running a default campaign.”
The party’s earlier decision to leave the 2023 presidential ticket open, despite calls to zone it to the south, triggered a crisis whose impact has continued to affect the PDP.