The National Coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, has faulted the comments by former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, regarding the zoning of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket to the South in 2027.

Gana, during a recent national television appearance, claimed that all PDP chairmen from the North had unanimously agreed to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the South.

But reacting to the statement, Hamzat, who leads the strategic support group mobilising for former presidential candidate and PDP chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, described the assertion as both inaccurate and constitutionally untenable.

“No such decision was reached by any constitutionally recognised organ of the PDP,” Hamzat said.

He maintained that even if informal discussions took place, they did not carry the weight of official party or constitutional authority and could amount to a breach of law if enforced.

“Besides, we have it on good authority that no such consultation took place between the Northern chairmen and Prof. Gana,” he added.

Hamzat noted that the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement cuts across the PDP, All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party, and a wide spectrum of active, vibrant young Nigerians who desire a Nigeria that works for all, not just for special interests.

He, therefore, urged party leaders to prioritise unity, fairness, and legality as the PDP prepares for its national convention in Oyo State later this year.

According to him, the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Ambassador Umar Damagun has worked tirelessly to foster inclusion and cohesion within the party and should be encouraged, not distracted by unverifiable claims or divisive rhetoric.

“The propagation of sectional narratives, no matter how well-intentioned, could undermine the NWC’s efforts to unite the party and may reverse the gains recorded so far,” Hamzat cautioned.

He stressed that only a national agenda, devoid of regional and religious sentiment, can position the PDP as the prime beneficiary of the growing wave of national consciousness ahead of the 2027 elections.

Hamzat cited historical precedents to reinforce his stance, noting that during the PDP presidential primaries in Jos, prominent Northern politicians like Alhaji Abubakar Rimi contested freely alongside Southern contenders such as Chief Alex Ekwueme and eventual winner, General Olusegun Obasanjo.

He also recalled that in 2003, Rimi and Chief Barnabas Gemade, also from the North, vied for the party’s presidential ticket.

He also referenced the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, where aspirants from both North and South, including Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Governor Yahaya Bello from the North, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the South, contested.

Tinubu eventually emerged as the party’s candidate and went on to win the presidency.

To ground his argument in law, Hamzat cited Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which prohibits discrimination based on place of origin, ethnicity, or political affiliation.

Hamzat argued that any internal party arrangement, like zoning, which effectively bars qualified Nigerians from contesting for the Presidency, solely because of their region, would violate both the spirit and letter of the Constitution.

“Zoning may serve as a gentleman’s agreement for balancing interests, but it must never become a legal or moral tool of exclusion. The Constitution remains supreme,” he stated.

He appealed to party stakeholders, including Gana, to support the unifying and progressive efforts of the NWC as the PDP seeks to reclaim national relevance ahead of the 2027 general election.

“The PDP’s strength lies in its diversity and ability to present credible options to Nigerians. Let the upcoming convention be a platform for vision, not division,” Hamzat added.