2027 Elections: I’m Not Opposed to Jonathan, Atiku, Obi – Olawepo-Hashim Backs Open PDP Primary
Abuja, Nigeria – August 7, 2025
Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has voiced strong support for an open and competitive presidential primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released by his media aide, Hassan Mahmoud, Hashim welcomed the potential return of top political figures such as former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Labour Party flagbearer, Peter Obi, to the PDP presidential race.
“The more, the merrier,” Hashim declared, emphasizing that a robust and transparent contest would restore the PDP’s identity as the “true party of democracy in Nigeria.”
PDP’s Roots in Unity and Competition
Recalling the founding days of the party in 1998, Hashim highlighted his role as Secretary of the Publicity Subcommittee, chaired by the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, where the idea of the now-famous umbrella symbol was first proposed by a journalist.
He praised the spirit of unity and democratic engagement that defined the PDP's early leadership, citing prominent party founders such as:
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Dr. Alex Ekwueme
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Chief Solomon Lar
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Alhaji Abubakar Rimi
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Mallam Adamu Ciroma
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Prof. Jubril Aminu
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Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, among others.
“We had giants of Nigeria’s political class under one roof—men who could have been great presidents. Yet, some stepped aside and others submitted to a fair contest in Jos in 1999, which Obasanjo eventually won,” he stated.
Critique of Gatekeeping Politics
Hashim criticised what he called “backdoor consensus” and gatekeeping politics, arguing that the PDP’s original strength came from free and fair internal elections.
He commended the leadership of Chief Solomon Lar, PDP’s interim chairman in 1998, for fostering an open and inclusive environment.
“Those who feared competition quietly exited the founding process. But we pressed on, and Nigeria benefitted,” he noted.
A Call for Inclusive 2027 Race
Hashim insisted that for the PDP to regain its national relevance and earn Nigerians’ trust in 2027, it must return to its founding democratic values.
“If Jonathan, Atiku, Obi, and others wish to contest, they should be welcomed. Let the best ideas and visions emerge through fair competition,” he said.
His comments, political analysts suggest, may help reshape internal party conversations, encouraging a focus on inclusiveness, merit, and transparency.
As speculation intensifies around the 2027 elections, Hashim’s intervention may mark the beginning of one of the most closely watched PDP primaries in recent history—a test of unity under one big umbrella.
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