Former presidential hopeful and PDP stalwart, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has thrown his weight behind the possible return of Goodluck Jonathan, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi to the PDP presidential race ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement released Thursday, August 7, in Kaduna by his media aide, Hassan Mahmoud, Hashim described the idea of the trio contesting as a positive step that could breathe new life into the party.
“The more, the merrier,” he said. “A robust and competitive primary will not divide the PDP. Rather, it will reassert its credentials as the true party of democracy in Nigeria.”
He reflected on the party’s roots, recalling how it was founded in 1998 to be inclusive and open to all political shades. “From the beginning, the PDP was designed to be a home for all,” he noted.
Hashim, who served as secretary of the party’s publicity subcommittee during its founding, also recalled how a journalist first suggested the umbrella symbol that has now become central to the PDP’s identity.
He paid tribute to some of the PDP’s founding figures, including Alex Ekwueme, Solomon Lar, Adamu Ciroma, and Sunday Awoniyi, describing them as political giants who built a united platform for democracy.
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“We had giants of Nigerian politics under one roof. Many had what it took to lead Nigeria, yet some stepped down, and others went through credible, competitive processes like the 1999 Jos convention that produced Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,” he said.
Hashim praised the leadership of the PDP’s first interim chairman, Chief Solomon Lar, for opening the party’s doors to a wide range of political actors, noting that those afraid of internal competition walked away early.
He stressed that for the PDP to become a serious national contender again, it must return to its founding values of fairness, openness, and unity.
According to him, the possible return of Jonathan, Atiku, or Obi should not raise eyebrows but be seen as a sign that the PDP still offers a viable platform.
“If Jonathan, Atiku, Obi and others wish to contest, they should be welcomed. Let the best ideas and visions emerge through fair competition. That is how to build a party of the future,” he said.
His remarks come as the PDP faces internal debates over zoning, succession, and coalition-building ahead of 2027.
While Jonathan, Atiku, and Obi have not declared their intentions, there is growing speculation about realignments within the opposition.