PDP Elders Backs Open Contest For 2027 Presidential Ticket

Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has called for an open and competitive process to select the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

Speaking through his media aide, he said the race should be open to all aspirants, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi. He believes their participation would make the contest stronger and more engaging.

Olawepo-Hashim said a broad and competitive primary would revive the PDP’s image as a party that belongs to all Nigerians, not a closed circle of politicians. He described the PDP as a national platform designed to welcome different views, ideas, and ambitions.

He recalled his role in the party’s formation in 1998, serving as secretary of the publicity subcommittee that helped adopt the umbrella symbol. He spoke of the unity and spirit of fair competition that brought together political heavyweights such as Alex Ekwueme, Solomon Lar, Abubakar Rimi, Adamu Ciroma, Sunday Awoniyi, Melford Okilo, Jubril Aminu, and Iyorchia Ayu.

Olawepo-Hashim pointed to the 1999 primary in Jos, which drew candidates from across the country and ended with Olusegun Obasanjo’s victory, as an example of the kind of healthy competition the party should embrace again. He said the PDP’s early strength came from open contests, not secret deals or restrictive politics.

He urged the party to return to its founding principles of inclusion and fair play if it hopes to win back public trust and become a credible alternative in 2027. In his view, any Nigerian with a clear vision and the ability to lead should be free to join the race, allowing the best ideas to win through open competition.

Olawepo-Hashim’s stance signals a push for a broader and more transparent contest within the PDP, setting the stage for what could be one of the most intense presidential primaries in recent history.