The decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to open its 2027 presidential ticket to all aspirants, while still retaining the principle of zoning to the South, has been described as a vindication of the position long canvassed by technocrat and politician, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.

This was as a prominent political analyst, Udenta Udenta, stressed unity among opposition parties as vital to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Since the PDP announced its zoning decision, Olawepo-Hashim has consistently faulted it, describing the move as undemocratic and contrary to the principles of fairness, justice and equity on which the party was founded.

Clarifying the party’s stance, the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, said on Arise Television’s Morning Show that while zoning remained a tool for equity, it could not override the country’s Constitution, which guarantees all citizens the right to seek elective office.

“Even if we zone our presidential slot to the South, it will not stop anybody from any part of the country from showing interest. We cannot do things that will contradict the Constitution of Nigeria, which is the grand norm,” Ajibade said.

The clarification aligns with the argument of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, which has maintained that zoning must not be used to exclude competent leaders, particularly from the North. According to the group, no internal party arrangement should supersede constitutional provisions.

Reacting to the development, South-West Coordinator of the movement, Abass Olaniyi, described the PDP’s position as “a major victory for democracy and a vindication of Olawepo-Hashim’s ideological politics,” stressing that the party had chosen the path of fairness and inclusivity.

With the PDP now aligning with Olawepo-Hashim’’s long-held position, observers believe he is better positioned to enter the race as a unifying figure, capable of rallying Nigerians around a vision of competence, equity and national renewal.

Udenta, however, noted former President Goodluck Jonathan’s potential candidacy in 2027 as a factor that could shift the electoral dynamics significantly.

The founding National Secretary of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), yesterday, warned that without cohesion among opposition forces like the PDP and Labour Party (LP), the APC would maintain its stranglehold on power with detrimental consequences for Nigeria.

“If PDP and LP do not come together, APC will destroy this country beyond recognition,” he cautioned. Udenta pointed to the 2027 general election as potentially decisive, particularly if Jonathan contests.

“That panic is that 2027 will be a day of reckoning. That becomes more acute if Jonathan contests that election,” he added. The political scholar emphasised Nigerians’ yearning for change amid governance challenges attributed to the APC, stressing the need for credible opposition alternatives. He described the APC as a fragile edifice that would not withstand the pressures of Nigeria’s political future.

“This is a structure of darkness that will collapse on its own,” he said, stressing that the APC weaponised state institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to entrench its dominance.

According to Udenta, Nigerians are eager for change and would reject the APC at the polls if credible alternatives emerge. “This country cannot continue like this. The people are watching and waiting. They are suffering,” he said. (The Guardian)

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