Olawepo-Hashim rejoins PDP, calls for unity ahead of 2027 polls

Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has officially returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring the party as Nigeria’s most viable platform for national unity and leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Olawepo-Hashim announced his return on Wednesday during a meeting with the PDP National Working Committee at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Describing the PDP as the only party with a truly national structure, he said, “Since 1998, the PDP has remained rooted in virtually every polling unit across the country. It is the only political platform capable of uniting Nigeria and restoring confidence in governance.”

He dismissed narratives suggesting the party’s decline, attributing recent defections to coercion and political intimidation rather than genuine loss of support. “The real strength of a political party lies in its grassroots—not just in prominent individuals. And the PDP still enjoys that strength,” he said.

Olawepo-Hashim also commended the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, for maintaining cohesion and stability in challenging times.

Looking ahead to 2027, he urged the PDP to rally around a unifying and visionary candidate who can address Nigeria’s pressing issues, including insecurity, economic instability, and social justice.

“The country is in desperate need of renewed hope,” he said. “The PDP must rise to the occasion.”