• Asks party leadership to allow all zones to enhance PDP’s chance at the polls

The Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, (GHSM), Osun State chapter, has called on the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to reverse its resolve to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the South and make it open to all aspirants from any region of the country. 

The group within the PDP in Osun identified zoning as the major factor behind the conflict within the opposition party.

It said the party must jettison the idea as a way to end the lingering crisis and prevent further ethnic division in the country.

The political group spoke at a press conference held on Tuesday, September 10, 2025, at the Osogbo City Hall, Olonkoro, Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The South West Coordinator of the movement, Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, said restricting the eligibility to the South limits the PDP’s chances at the polls and also denies Nigerians the service of competent and viable individuals like  Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim. 

Olaniyi said Osun and other South West leaders are working assiduously to ensure that Olawepo-Hashim emerges to brighten PDP chance and rescue Nigeria from its present woes.

“It is unsettling to note that the PDP has failed to realize that this unconstitutional act of zoning is the root cause of the crisis that has bedeviled the party since the last presidential election and even before then. 

“A further decision to zone the party’s presidential ticket will not in any way get the party back on its track, but rather, worsen the situation.

“There’s nothing the PDP needs as a panacea to heal itself, than to engender factors that unifies the party, enhances fairness and ensure that competent, viable and patriotic members of the party are not disenfranchised so as to heighten PDP chances at the polls come 2027.

“This is what Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim stands for and is advocating. Nigerians must rally behind leaders whose politics is built on competence, inclusiveness, and national development, rather than sectional considerations,” Olaniyi said.

Addressing media men at the press conference attended by party members, Acting State Coordinator, Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, Hon Tajudeen Hassan, stressed the need for the country to prioritize competence and capability over zoning.

Describing zoning as unconstitutional and undemocratic, Hassan, who was flanked by other leaders, highlighted the virtues of Olawepo-Hashim and implored the PDP leadership to have a rethink before the party’s forthcoming convention.

“This zoning principle has now been given so much prominence, and forcefully adopted as a criterion in key political decision making.

“It was this same factor that informed the recent decision of the National Executive Council of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to zone its Presidential ticket to the Southern part of Nigeria, a decision we see as a grievous error and bad precedent that could be devastating to the unity of Nigeria.

“We want to state categorically that we oppose any decision capable of alienating a section of the country.

We want to make it very clear that Osun State will not sit idly by, while regressive forces within the PDP try to truncate the aspiration of a visionary leader like Dr. Gbenga Hashim through unconstitutional zoning.

Nigerians are longing for a truly ideological presidency, not the politics of ethnicity and sectional manipulation.

“Let me state without mincing words that we in Osun State are resolute in our quest to deliver votes to ensure that Dr. Hashim Olawepo, emerges victorious in 2027. Hashim, a founding member of the PDP, is not just a unifying figure, he is also the most prepared among the potential aspirants,” Hassan said.

The women leader at the gathering, Hon. Olawale Adenike in her own remark, said Nigeria at the time needs a detribalized leader like Olawepo-Hashim who “guarantees a paradigm shift in leadership, combining experience in both private and public sectors with a strong record of advocacy for democracy, social justice, and economic reforms.

“Despite having a Lagosian as President of Nigeria, the masses of Nigeria are suffering like never before and we are ready to support a leader with a detribalized orientation who is competent.”

Also speaking, Hon Jimoh Lanre Bello. J.B, tasked members of the GHSM to commit themselves to the vision and objectives of the political movement in the interest of the party and Nigeria as a whole.

Bello, who assured members of fairness and transparency in their activities, stressed that members interest will be protected at all times.

Other leaders at the political gathering include Hon- Bello Musiliu Olalekan, Hon Elder Ponle, Hon. Adejare Musediq, Hon. Bayo Bello and Hon. Kamoru Ajetunmobi.

Others are Hon.Gbenjo Ezekiel, Hon Wasiu Sekoni and Hon. Ajibola Yakub

There were also representatives from various local government areas across the state.