2027: Olawepo-Hashim’s Camp Rejects PDP Zoning, Warns of ‘Self-Defeat’

Supporters of former presidential aspirant Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim have faulted the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, describing it as a “path to self-defeat.”

The ruling sparked sharp divisions within the party, with Olawepo-Hashim vowing to challenge the zoning arrangement at the PDP’s forthcoming National Convention. He has consistently argued that restricting the ticket to any region is both unlawful and undemocratic.

At a news conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Mr. Ola Azeez, State Coordinator of the Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim (GOH) Solidarity Movement, insisted that zoning risks weakening party unity just as the PDP struggles to rebuild its base.

“The party is in the path of self-defeat again with this zoning. It is already causing problems. We must open the ticket to all aspirants, or risk another mass exodus,” Azeez warned.

He noted that during PDP’s 16 years in power, the South produced presidents for over 14 years while the North, where most votes come from, had only two years. “Why shut out 19 states? That is unfair and dangerous for the party,” he added.

Azeez described Olawepo-Hashim as a unique bridge between North and South, citing his Kwara roots (North-Central) and his mother’s Oyo State (South-West) background. He praised him as the “best option for PDP in 2027,” highlighting his expertise in petroleum engineering, petroleum economics, and petroleum politics.

Echoing his stance, Mrs. Toyin Owolabi, State Woman Leader of the support group, urged PDP’s national leadership to reconsider the zoning policy. She cautioned that shutting out qualified aspirants would not only undermine internal democracy but also weaken the party’s chances in 2027.

With debates intensifying, the zoning battle appears set to shape the PDP’s convention and define its strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential race.