The North West arm of the Gbenga Hashim Vanguard has cautioned against attempts to use former President Goodluck Jonathan as a “spoiler” in the build up to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary for the 2027 elections.
Reacting to reports credited to Senator Abba Moro that the PDP had allegedly shortlisted three Southern aspirants, including Jonathan, as possible flagbearers, the Vanguard described the claim as “provincial and dangerous for party unity.”
Speaking in Kano, the group’s North West Coordinator, Aminu Wudilawa, insisted that only duly elected delegates, in line with the Electoral Act, can determine the PDP’s presidential candidate.
“The PDP cannot afford to repeat the mistake of 2015, when President Jonathan was misled into a provincialist approach that weakened the party and cost us power,” Wudilawa said.
“The party is not sectional, it belongs to all Nigerians; North and South. Any attempt to reduce the process to ethnic politics will be resisted.”
He emphasized that while Jonathan has every right to contest, the move to restrict the ticket to the South is designed to shut out competent Northern aspirants such as Dr. Gbenga Hashim, a founding member of the PDP and its first deputy national publicity secretary.
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“Dr. Hashim is a democrat who sacrificed for the return of democracy, a successful entrepreneur, and one of the cleanest hands in Nigerian politics.
“He represents the forward looking leadership Nigerians desire, not a return to corruption, ineptitude, and provincialism,” Wudilawa declared.
The group reaffirmed its support for Hashim’s presidential ambition, insisting that Nigerians are in search of a leader with a firm grasp of economics and national security.
“Insha Allah, that leader is Dr. Gbenga Hashim. No spoiler tactic will be allowed to shut the door against his aspiration,” Wudilawa concluded.
