By Dapo Akinrefon & Luminous Jannamike
LAGOS — Some leaders of the Individuals’s Democratic Celebration, PDP, are holding high-level consultations to get former President Goodluck Jonathan to run on the social gathering’s ticket for the 2027 presidential race, Vanguard has gathered.
This got here on a day presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, declared that the social gathering’s zoning of its 2027 presidential ticket to the South is not going to stand, insisting that the ultimate choice lies with the nationwide conference and never the Nationwide Government Committee, NEC.
Nevertheless, the social gathering’s management has dismissed claims that the choice to zone its presidential ticket to the South was aimed toward glorifying the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, stressing that the transfer was taken to strengthen the social gathering and guarantee stability.
On Monday, the PDP zoned its presidential ticket to the South on the finish of its 102nd NEC assembly in Abuja.
The choice has since generated combined reactions from some Northern teams, which have opposed the zoning association.
PDP leaders wooing Jonathan
Nevertheless, as a part of strikes to lure the previous President, some PDP leaders have been mentioned to have met with Jonathan to mount strain on him to affix the race.
Sources near the previous president, who confirmed the assembly between Dr Jonathan and the PDP leaders, advised Vanguard that “some PDP leaders met with Dr Goodluck Jonathan to woo him, forward of the 2027 presidential election, however on the finish of the day, the previous President mentioned he was nonetheless consulting and would get again to them.”
PDP zoning choice gained’t stand — Olawepo-Hashim
Nevertheless, faulting the zoning of the presidential ticket to the South, a PDP presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, mentioned the choice is not going to stand, insisting that the ultimate choice lies with the nationwide conference, not the NEC.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the previous Deputy Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the PDP said that he’s ready to petition the conference to overturn NEC’s choice, drawing parallels with previous cases the place comparable strikes had been defeated.
He mentioned: “This zoning choice is not going to stand. In 2000, NEC determined to increase the tenure of the Nationwide Working Committee, NWC, led by Engr. Barnabas Gemade, from two to 4 years. I used to be then Deputy Nationwide Publicity Secretary. I led the G-54 members of the NEC, and we petitioned the nationwide conference. The NEC’s choice was overturned.”
Olawepo-Hashim dismissed the zoning components as undemocratic and unconstitutional, arguing that it robs the social gathering of its finest choices in a important election yr.
“Why ought to the PDP zone its presidential ticket to the South and shut individuals out? In 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo contested in opposition to Alex Ekwueme and Abubakar Rimi. In 2003, once more, Obasanjo contested in opposition to Ekwueme and Rimi.
“Extra just lately, President Bola Tinubu within the APC contested in opposition to 14 different presidential aspirants and gained. That’s democratic. What PDP is doing is just not,” he said.
Warning that the legality of the zoning choice will probably be examined on the conference, he mentioned: “As was the case in 2000, when the conference overruled the NEC, the identical will occur this time, since it’s an elective conference the place points will probably be voted on.”
“Let there be an open contest primarily based on competence, who can finest handle our financial challenges and our safety disaster. Nigeria is bleeding. Anybody afraid of an open contest is just not match to be President of Nigeria. We’re speaking a few President for Nigeria, not only for the North or South,” he emphasised.
Vowing to not be intimidated by the zoning directive, the aspirant vowed to remain within the race.
“I’ve no intention of backing down. No social gathering can shut its doorways to any Nigerian’s aspiration. The North-Central has by no means produced a president or vp, and it might be unfair to disclaim us the possibility now,” he maintained.
PDP FCT endorses Olawepo-Hashim
In the meantime, in a lift to his marketing campaign, PDP members within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have overtly endorsed Olawepo-Hashim’s candidacy, declaring their rejection of NEC’s zoning choice.
At a gathering attended by key stakeholders, together with social gathering chairmen, council flagbearers, councillorship candidates, and secretaries of space councils, the members pledged loyalty to his aspiration and formally adopted him because the political chief of the FCT.
The movement, moved by state chairman, Mr Ismail Dogara, and seconded by govt chairman of Bwari Space Council, Mr John Gabaya, was carried unanimously amid chants of ‘’the place you go, we go.’
The Nationwide Vice Chairman (North Central Zone), Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed Takushara, praised him for his ‘unflinching assist’ for the zone, saying it is going to galvanise the PDP to higher victories.
A celebration chieftain, Mr Soko Dobo, careworn that Olawepo-Hashim understands the peculiar challenges of the FCT and condemned the political marginalisation of its residents.
“The nationwide chairman himself mentioned zoning doesn’t imply others can not contest. We within the North Central are absolutely behind Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim,” he mentioned.
On the assembly, Olawepo-Hashim charged supporters to accentuate grassroots mobilisation, forward of the 2026 space council elections and the 2027 presidential race.
Zoning presidency to South to not glorify Wike — PDP
In a transfer to set the information straight over its zoning association in 2027, the PDP, yesterday, dismissed claims that the choice was aimed toward glorifying the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, stressing that the transfer was taken to strengthen the social gathering and guarantee stability.
The social gathering’s Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, who made the clarification whereas that includes on Come up Tv’s programme, addressed questions on the state of the PDP, the forthcoming nationwide conference and dissenting views throughout the social gathering.
Ologunagba insisted that the PDP was by no means in an ‘intensive care unit,’ opposite to feedback made by Senator Gabriel Suswan, former governor of Benue State.
In accordance with him, the social gathering has solely gone via challenges much like these confronted by any organisation however has since ‘recalibrated’ to reposition itself, forward of the 2027 polls.
He mentioned: “The social gathering was by no means within the ICU. Do we have now challenges? Sure, we do, similar to each human organisation however what has emerged is the truth that the PDP has the capability, in difficult durations, to step again, reorganise itself and take cost of its inner affairs.”
On claims that the zoning choice was a vindication of Wike, he mentioned: “Nobody particular person is vindicated. If something, it’s the social gathering that has been vindicated. After the 2023 elections, we reviewed our processes, recognized the gaps, and made the mandatory changes. That’s the reason Nigerians are actually seeing renewed unity and pleasure throughout the PDP.”
He careworn that the social gathering’s choice is in keeping with the founding precept that the presidential candidate ought to rotate between the North and South, including that each one stakeholders, together with the PDP Governors’ Discussion board, NEC, Board of Trustees, BoT, and state chapters, have been united behind the decision.
“NEC, in spite of everything consultations, determined to take care of stability by conserving positions within the North the place they’re, retaining positions within the South the place they’re, and zoning the presidency to the South. This was about equity and unity, not glorifying a person,” he added.
Ologunagba additionally addressed dissenting voices throughout the social gathering, together with the North-Central Renaissance Motion, which opposed the zoning association, and Senator Abba Moro, the Senate Minority Chief, who had admitted that it was a mistake for the PDP to discipline former Vice President Atiku Abubakar within the 2023 elections.
“The great thing about democracy is that folks can disagree, however what issues is the capability of the social gathering to deliver everybody again to the desk. The place we have been six months in the past is just not the place we’re right now. We proceed to interact, seek the advice of and reconcile as a result of we would like democracy to succeed,” he defined.
On the problem of self-discipline for members who labored in opposition to the social gathering in 2023, he mentioned the PDP initially prioritised reconciliation however has now reached the stage of imposing penalties.
He mentioned: “Membership of the PDP is voluntary however comes with obligations below the structure. We have now reached the purpose the place each member should roll up their sleeves and work for the social gathering. Reprimands have been issued, and we count on members to conform. We need to look ahead, not backward.
“Each stakeholder was duly knowledgeable. Particularly, Wike was invited as a NEC member, and the letter was obtained and acknowledged in his workplace. Notices have been additionally printed in a number of newspapers. So, to say he was not invited is solely not true.”
Talking on the social gathering’s nationwide conference scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Ologunagba mentioned: “All preparations for the conference, venue, logistics, and safety are in place. Each organ of the social gathering is united and prepared. Nigerians are excited as a result of they know the PDP has the capability to ship, simply because it did throughout its 16 years in energy.”
On permutations linking former President Goodluck Jonathan, Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, or former Labour Celebration candidate, Peter Obi, to the PDP’s 2027 ticket, the spokesman declined to be drawn into hypothesis.
“Proper now, the main focus is on a seamless and credible nationwide conference. However let me emphasise: the PDP is blessed with credible and eminently certified people. Our governors are performing, and Nigerians recognise that the PDP stays the oasis of improvement on this nation,” Ologunagba said.
Zoning ticket to South’s sacrifice for unity — Bala Mohammed
Certainly, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State mentioned the choice of the PDP to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South was sacrifice for unity.
Talking with journalists in Bauchi, Governor Mohammed mentioned politics needs to be pushed by unity not private curiosity, including that social gathering members should respect each other and keep in mind that energy comes from God.
His phrases: “I’m very glad with the decision as a result of I’m half and parcel of it, from the association, technique, and supply. We have now taken an all-inclusive choice to carry our conference in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15, and one other NEC assembly on October 15.
“We additionally agreed to take care of the present zoning association for social gathering workplaces and to zone the presidential ticket to the south to advertise sanity, understanding and unity.
“Politics is just not about self-interest, it’s about actualisation throughout the framework of social gathering choices, manifesto and nationwide progress. The whole lot is based on sacrifice, not self-interest. We should dwell and let’s dwell.”
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