By Omoniyi David
The North-West Coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Vanguard, Aminu Bala Wudilawa, has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to resist blackmail and pressure to cede its 2027 presidential ticket to any “regional warlord” under the guise of zoning or power rotation.
Aminu argued that zoning has damaged Nigeria’s political culture, stressing that democracy is about popular choice, not a “turn-by-turn” arrangement.
He insisted that only a candidate with broad national appeal, capable of winning votes across both the North and South, can return the PDP to power.
“Any candidate who cannot win an open, competitive primary by building national consensus has no chance of winning the general election,” he said.
He described Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the ideal presidential candidate, citing his integrity, competence, and pan-Nigerian vision.
“Liberal and patriotic forces in the North are rallying around Gbenga Hashim not out of political sentiment, but because of his national appeal, integrity, and long-standing commitment to democracy and unity,” he stated.
Aminu further claimed that no aspirant in either the PDP or APC over the past eight years has demonstrated a deeper understanding of national security and economic reform than Hashim.
Addressing claims that the PDP’s 1999 presidential ticket was zoned to the South, he asserted that General Olusegun Obasanjo emerged not because of zoning, but due to his strong commitment to national unity. “Today, we see that same spirit in Gbenga Hashim,” he said.
He concluded by reaffirming the Gbenga Hashim Vanguard’s commitment to mobilising nationwide for a truly pan-Nigerian agenda focused on unity, development, and democracy, beyond ethnic or regional considerations.
