A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North West geopolitical zone, Aminu Bala Wudilawa, has urged the party to consider former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, as its flagbearer in the 2027 general elections.
Wudilawa, who is also the North West Coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Vanguard, made the call during a political engagement in Kano, arguing that his principal possesses the competence, credibility and national spread to secure votes across the federation.
According to him, Nigeria’s political climate requires a unifier who can transcend ethnic and regional divides. He described Olawepo-Hashim as “a natural bridge-builder,” citing his mixed Hausa and Yoruba heritage, and his background as an entrepreneur, democracy activist and advocate of good governance.
On zoning, Wudilawa dismissed the arrangement as “backward and unconstitutional,” insisting that it should not prevent Nigerians from electing a leader with the pedigree to deliver genuine transformation.
He continued: “Nigeria desperately needs a political leader who is competent, credible and capable of bridging the gap between North and South in the present context. Among all the presidential hopefuls being touted today, Dr. Gbenga Hashim clearly stands out.”
Wudilawa’s position, however, may stir fresh debate within the opposition party, as zoning of the presidential ticket remains a contentious issue. Many Southern PDP stakeholders have consistently demanded that the 2027 ticket be retained in the South, arguing that power should not return to the North so soon after the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
A member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), who preferred anonymity, told The Guardian that while Olawepo-Hashim is respected for his activism and business background, “the mood of the party is still tilted towards zoning as a way of maintaining balance and inclusivity.”
Similarly, a Southwest PDP leader, Eddy Olafeso, argued that presenting Olawepo-Hashim outside of zoning agreements could alienate key blocs within the party.
