Some PDP leaders don dey hold big-big meeting to try convince former President Goodluck Jonathan make him run for president again under their party for 2027.
Na the same day wey one presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, talk say the zoning wey PDP do to carry their 2027 presidential ticket go South no go work. Him say na the national convention get final say, no be the National Executive Committee (NEC).
But PDP leadership don deny say the zoning na to praise Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike. Dem talk say the reason wey dem zone am na to make the party strong and bring better stability.
On Monday, PDP announce say dem don zone their presidential ticket to the South after their 102nd NEC meeting for Abuja.
Since that announcement, some Northern groups don dey vex and oppose the zoning arrangement.
As part of the plan to pull former President Goodluck Jonathan enter the 2027 race, some PDP leaders don meet with am to pressure am make he join the contest.
People wey sabi wetin happen talk say PDP leaders meet with Jonathan to sweet-talk am ahead of the 2027 presidential election, but Jonathan tell dem say he still dey consult and go get back to dem later.
Meanwhile, one PDP presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, don talk say the zoning of the presidential ticket to the South no go hold. Him insist say na the national convention get final say, no be NEC.
As he dey talk with journalists for Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim wey be former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of PDP say he ready to petition the convention make dem cancel NEC decision. He remind people say similar thing don happen before and dem overturn am.
He talk say, “This zoning decision no go stand. For 2000, NEC talk say make dem extend the tenure of the National Working Committee, NWC, wey Engr. Barnabas Gemade dey lead, from two years to four years. That time I be Deputy National Publicity Secretary. I lead 54 NEC members wey petition the national convention. Dem later cancel the NEC decision.”
Olawepo-Hashim don talk say the zoning formula wey PDP dey use no dey democratic and e no follow constitution. He say the thing dey deny the party better options for one important election period.
He ask, “Why PDP go zone presidential ticket go South and come block other people? For 1999, Obasanjo contest against Alex Ekwueme and Abubakar Rimi. For 2003 again, Obasanjo still contest against dem. Even for APC, Tinubu contest against 14 other aspirants and he win. That one na democracy. Wetin PDP dey do no be democracy.”
He warn say the zoning matter go face legal test for the convention. He talk say, “Just like 2000 wey convention overrule NEC, same thing go happen again because na elective convention wey people go vote.”
He add say, “Make we do open contest based on who sabi manage Nigeria economy and security wahala. Nigeria dey suffer. Anybody wey fear open contest no fit be Nigeria President. We dey find President for whole Nigeria, no be only North or South.”
Olawepo-Hashim talk say he no go gree make zoning push am comot for the race. He say, “I no get plan to back down. No party fit block any Nigerian from chasing their dream. North-Central never produce president or vice president before, and e go dey unfair to deny us now.”
Meanwhile, PDP members for FCT don support Olawepo-Hashim campaign. Dem reject the zoning decision wey NEC make and declare support for am.
For one meeting wey party chairmen, council candidates, and other stakeholders attend, dem pledge loyalty to Olawepo-Hashim and adopt am as political leader of FCT. The motion wey Mr Ismail Dogara move and Mr John Gabaya second, pass with everybody shouting “where you go, we go.”
National Vice Chairman for North Central, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed Takushara, hail am for the support wey he dey give the zone, say e go help PDP win more.
One party leader, Mr Soko Dobo, talk say Olawepo-Hashim sabi the wahala wey FCT people dey face and condemn how dem dey marginalise the residents politically.
He talk say, “Even the national chairman talk say zoning no mean say others no fit contest. We for North Central dey fully support Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.”
For the meeting, Olawepo-Hashim tell him supporters make dem do more grassroots mobilisation ahead of 2026 area council elections and the 2027 presidential race.
To clear the air about the zoning arrangement for 2027, PDP don talk say the decision no be to praise FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike. Dem say na to make the party strong and stable.
The party National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, yarn this one when he appear for Arise Television show. He answer questions about PDP condition, the national convention wey dey come, and the wahala wey dey inside the party.
Ologunagba talk say PDP no dey inside ‘intensive care unit’ like Senator Gabriel Suswan, former Benue governor, talk. He say PDP just face normal challenges wey dey happen to any organisation, but dem don ‘recalibrate’ to prepare well for 2027 elections.
He talk say: “The party no ever enter ICU. We get challenges? Yes, just like every organisation. But wetin show be say PDP get the power to step back, rearrange and handle their matter well during tough times.”
About the talk say zoning na to praise Wike, he say: “No be one person dem dey praise. Na the party dem dey praise. After 2023 elections, we check our process, see the mistakes and correct am. Na why Nigerians dey see new unity and ginger inside PDP.”
He talk say the zoning follow PDP original plan wey say presidential candidate go dey rotate between North and South. He add say all PDP people, Governors’ Forum, NEC, BoT and state chapters support the decision.
He say: “After all the talk, NEC decide say make positions for North remain for North, positions for South remain for South, and make presidency go South. Na fairness and unity matter, no be to praise anybody.”
Ologunagba still talk about people wey no gree with the zoning, like North-Central Renaissance Movement and Senator Abba Moro wey talk say PDP make mistake to carry Atiku Abubakar for 2023 elections.
He say: “Democracy sweet because people fit disagree. But wetin matter na the party power to bring everybody back to talk. Where we dey six months ago no be where we dey now. We go continue to talk, consult and settle because we want make democracy work.”
As PDP dey talk about discipline for members wey work against the party for 2023, dem don yarn say before dem try settle things, but now na time to take action.
Ologunagba talk say: “To join PDP na your choice, but once you join, you get responsibility under the party constitution. We don reach the level wey every member gats roll sleeve and work for the party. We don give warning, and we expect make people follow. We dey look forward, no be backward.”
He still talk say all the important people for the party get the info wey dem need. He mention say Wike, as NEC member, get him invitation and him office acknowledge the letter. Dem even publish the notice for plenty newspapers. So anybody wey talk say Wike no get invite dey talk lie.
About the national convention wey go happen for November 15 and 16, 2025, for Ibadan, Ologunagba talk say: “Everything don ready including venue, logistics, security. All the party organs dey united and ready. Nigerians dey happy because dem sabi say PDP fit deliver, just like during the 16 years wey PDP hold power.”
When dem ask am about the talk wey dey link people like Goodluck Jonathan, Seyi Makinde, or Peter Obi to PDP 2027 ticket, he no gree enter that matter.
He talk say: “For now, our focus na to do smooth and credible national convention. But make I talk am clear, PDP get plenty correct and qualified people. Our governors dey perform, and Nigerians dey see say PDP still be the place wey development dey happen for this country.”