In a bold step to reposition the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, ahead of its next National Convention, former presidential candidate and party stalwart, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has embarked on a reconciliation mission across the North Central zone.
Hashim, known for his advocacy for political reform and national unity, met with key PDP figures including former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki and ex-Minister of Sports Hon. Damishi Sango, as part of efforts to rebuild trust and cohesion within the party.
During a meeting in his Abuja office, Hashim hosted Sango, who was accompanied by Mr. Sam Habu, a longtime aide to the late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, the revered founding chairman of the PDP and former governor of old Plateau State.
“We were both mentees of Chief Solomon Lar, the Emancipator. Our discussion centered on reconciling leaders in Plateau and across the North Central zone”, Hashim said.
Continuing his bridge-building effort, Hashim also held talks with Saraki over the weekend in what insiders described as a “strategic political conversation” focused on rebuilding the PDP’s structures and strengthening its national outlook.
“We agreed to work together for the greater interest of Nigeria—to rebuild the PDP in the North Central zone and the nation at large. To God be the Glory”, Hashim stated.
Political observers view Hashim’s latest engagements as a renewed consolidation of the PDP’s North Central bloc, long regarded as the moral conscience of the party. His outreach to influential figures like Saraki and Sango signals his emergence as a unifying force and consensus builder in opposition politics.
As the PDP works to reclaim lost ground and redefine its national strategy, Gbenga Hashim’s reconciliation drive is fast becoming a rallying point for leaders seeking to restore the party’s unity and strength ahead of the next political cycle.
It will be recalled that
stakeholders of the party in Ogun State at the weekend formally endorsed Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim for president, declaring that the era of “politics of entitlement” is over.
The endorsement, made under the aegis of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement ,GHSM, positions Ogun as the epicenter of a growing South West political reawakening, a wave that has already gained traction across Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, and Oyo States.
Speaking after the adoption, Hon. Gbenga Idowu, State Coordinator of GHSM, described Hashim as “the bridge between the North and South” and “the most competent and credible alternative to the failed APC leadership”.
“President Tinubu has failed both Nigeria and the South West. What he promised as renewal has turned into national ruin. Inflation is at its worst, insecurity has deepened, and the people are hungry”, Idowu declared.
He added that, Ogun is joining the rest of the South West to say enough is enough. It was here that Tinubu once said ‘Emilokan’ and God permitted it. Today, we are saying, ‘Baba, eti ja wa kule. Ni 2027, Gbenga ni o má gbe wa ga’, meaning, the feast is over; it is Gbenga who will lift us higher”.
The stakeholders hailed Hashim’s comprehensive $4 trillion economic blueprint, which emphasizes industrial expansion, energy reform, agricultural value chains, and youth employment as pillars for national rebirth.
They also praised his integrated national security plan, which combines intelligence coordination, defense reform, and community policing to tackle insecurity holistically.
“Gbenga Hashim has a plan, not slogans. While others trade in political catchphrases, Hashim offers leadership with depth, clarity, and vision”, Idowu asserted.
The Hashim wave is already resonating across the South West, with similar endorsements emerging from PDP stakeholders and grassroots coalitions in Osun, Oyo, Lagos, and Ekiti, signaling what political observers describe as a “South West PDP rebirth” anchored on Hashim’s leadership.
“Gbenga Hashim is not in politics for ego or profit,” Idowu emphasized. “He is here for purpose to unite our nation, reform our economy, and restore the dignity of governance”.
Dr. Olawepo-Hashim, a founding member of the PDP, businessman, and former presidential candidate, has in recent months emerged as a formidable national contender ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political analysts say Ogun’s endorsement marks a major shift in regional dynamics and could reshape South West politics in the countdown to 2027.
