Flashes automatic ticket at Jonathan, woos Obi
Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against handing its 2027 presidential ticket to any regional political warlord.
In a statement, yesterday, Coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Vanguard (North-West), Aminu Wudilawa, urged the PDP leadership to resist pressure and blackmail to enforce zoning or power rotation in favour of a regional strongman.
However, the National Financial Secretary of PDP, Daniel Woyengikuro, said the party could offer former President Goodluck Jonathan an automatic ticket for the 2027 presidential election, with some conditions.
Amid ongoing moves by the former ruling party to woo Peter Obi back into its fold, the former Anambra State governor, yesterday, made a notable appearance at the launch of two political books authored by veteran journalist and strategist, Ike Abonyi.
Olawepo-Hashim argued that zoning damaged Nigeria’s political psyche and should not override the democratic principle of popular choice.
“Only a candidate with broad national appeal, capable of commanding votes across both North and South, can secure victory for the PDP in 2027,” he said.
Wudilawa noted that a true contender must win an open, competitive primary by building consensus across Nigeria, insisting that anyone unable to do so stands no chance in the general election.
He described Olawepo-Hashim as the ideal candidate, embodying the values, competence and character required for Nigeria’s leadership. “Liberal and patriotic forces in the North are rallying behind Olawepo-Hashim, not out of political sentiment, but due to his integrity, democratic commitment and pan-Nigerian vision. He is a candidate both North and South can trust.”
In a chat with newsmen yesterday, the PDP financial secretary stressed that Jonathan would have to return to the party and play a more active political role if he were to be handed the ticket on a platter.
He said: “Is he not the best candidate for us at this moment? He is not just a former president; he is the leader of the party now.
“Aside from [former President Olusegun] Obasanjo, the next person in line is him. Jonathan is the national leader of this party.”
When asked directly if PDP would consider granting Jonathan an automatic ticket, Woyengikuro replied: “For me, that’s what I firmly stand for. You can quote me anywhere. I want him to come. An automatic ticket for him, as it stands now (will suffice), because we must salvage both this party and the nation.”
One of the books Obi attended the unveiling of: Wadata Wonders: Memoirs of a Partisan Journalist, was entitled after the building housing the PDP national secretariat.
Obi’s presence at the event, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, is coming just days after the PDP publicly admitted it was making concerted efforts to bring the former vice-presidential candidate back into its ranks ahead of the 2027 elections.
Although he remained tight-lipped on the matter, Obi’s attendance at an event overwhelmingly populated by PDP leaders may be fuelling fresh speculation about the possibility of a political realignment.
Abonyi, a former Group Political Editor of THISDAY and pioneer Deputy Managing Director of New Telegraph, served for over four years as Media Adviser to two PDP National Chairmen, an experience detailed in Wadata Wonders.
The occasion was chaired by economist and 2023 PDP presidential aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, while Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, the Chief Book Presenter, was represented by Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Emmanuel Agbo.
