A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has faulted the party’s decision to zone the presidency, warning that it amounts to an indirect endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The former presidential candidate issued the warning on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, shortly after the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.
Zoning Move ‘Unprecedented in PDP’s History’
Olawepo-Hashim described the zoning decision as unprecedented in the party’s history, stressing that it weakens the PDP’s chances of producing a strong presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
“Zoning the presidency to the South is a default campaign for the return of President Bola Tinubu. Those who are mounting this zoning campaign are the same people saying they are in the PDP but working for President Tinubu,” he said.
PDP Has Never Barred Any Region – Olawepo-Hashim
The PDP stalwart argued that historically, the party had never barred any geopolitical zone from contesting the presidency. He cited past elections to buttress his claim.
- In 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo contested against Alhaji Abubakar Rimi from the North and Dr. Alex Ekwueme from the South-East.
- In 2003, as a sitting president, Obasanjo again faced challenges from Chief Barnabas Gemade (Benue) and Rimi (Kano) within the PDP.
According to Olawepo-Hashim, these examples prove that the PDP had always maintained an open contest system rather than enforcing zoning at the presidential level.
‘NEC Made a Big Error’
While acknowledging that the decision was democratically reached, Olawepo-Hashim insisted it was a strategic mistake.
“I’m not saying they didn’t do it by majority; they did, and it was democratic. But it was a big error,” he stated.
Possible Constitutional Breach
The PDP chieftain further warned that the zoning policy could trigger a constitutional crisis, stressing that Nigeria’s Constitution prohibits discrimination in elective positions based on ethnicity or region.
“The Constitution of Nigeria does not allow you to discriminate against a party member regarding elective positions on account of where he comes from,” he cautioned.
Growing Debate Ahead of 2027 Elections
The PDP’s zoning decision has sparked widespread debate among party stakeholders and political analysts, many of whom believe it could reshape the dynamics of the 2027 presidential race. Critics like Olawepo-Hashim argue that it leaves the PDP vulnerable and may hand an advantage to President Tinubu in his expected re-election bid.
