Olawepo-Hashim urges PDP to hold open 2027 primaries, welcomes Jonathan, Atiku, and Obi into the race for Nigeria’s presidency
As the 2027 general elections approach, former presidential candidate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has called for open and competitive presidential primaries, welcoming the possible entry of Goodluck Jonathan, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi into the contest.
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In a statement by his media aide Hassan Mahmoud, Olawepo-Hashim described their potential return to the PDP race as a healthy development, insisting that robust competition would restore the party’s image as “Nigeria’s true party of democracy.”
“The PDP was never meant to be an exclusive club. It is a national platform, a big umbrella for all shades of opinion, ideology, and aspiration,” he said, recalling his role in the party’s 1998 formation and the adoption of the umbrella symbol.
Olawepo-Hashim praised the inclusiveness of PDP’s early days, citing political heavyweights like Dr Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, and others, who either stepped aside or contested fairly during the 1999 primaries won by Olusegun Obasanjo.
He argued that the PDP’s founding strength lay in free internal democracy, not “backdoor consensus or gatekeeping politics,” and urged the party to return to its original ethos to regain national relevance in 2027.
“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.
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Political analysts suggest Olawepo-Hashim’s stance could reshape internal PDP debates, positioning the 2027 primaries as one of Nigeria’s most consequential political battles in recent memory.
