OP-ED: Gbenga Hashim Offers PDP Opportunity To Return Nigeria To Value Based Politics 

As Nigeria approaches the crucial 2027 general elections, the nation finds itself once again at a defining crossroads. In a political landscape marked by recycled leadership, transactional alliances, and deepening public disillusionment, the emergence of Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim within the fold of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) offers a glimmer of hope, not just for the party, but for the nation as a whole.

Gbenga Hashim is not your typical Nigerian politician. A former student activist turned successful businessman and international peace advocate, his political trajectory has been guided by a rare mix of ideological clarity, personal integrity, and a lifelong commitment to national unity.

At a time when Nigeria is groaning under the weight of bad governance, insecurity, economic hardship, and worsening ethno religious divisions, Hashim represents a departure from the norm, an opportunity to return to value based politics rooted in competence, justice, and vision.

For the PDP, which has struggled in recent years to define its post 2015 identity, the presence of Gbenga Hashim within its ranks could not be more timely.

With many of its governors and top officials wavering in loyalty and some reportedly cozying up to the ruling APC for personal survival, the party risks repeating the fatal errors of the past errors that cost the Alliance for Democracy (AD) its political base in 2003 and nearly decimated the PDP itself in 2015.

But the Hashim factor offers a corrective path. It is a chance for the PDP to redefine itself, not around personalities or regional zoning formulas, but around a compelling national agenda.

A party that once prided itself on being a pan Nigerian platform can ill afford to descend into the same ethnic and sectarian trenches that have entrapped other political formations.

Hashim’s politics of values, pan Nigerianism, and developmental realism aligns squarely with the PDP’s founding principles of justice, equity, and national unity.

Hashim is also a bridge figure, connecting the older generation of political leaders with a new crop of young Nigerians demanding better governance, transparency, and opportunity.

His consistent call for restructuring, economic diversification, security reform, and digital driven governance aligns with the aspirations of millions of citizens yearning for a country that works for all.

The 2027 elections will not just be a referendum on the APC’s performance; they will be a test of whether the opposition can offer a credible alternative.

The PDP must avoid the temptation of “business as usual” and embrace transformational leadership.

Gbenga Hashim offers the party more than just a name on the ballot, he offers a vision, a roadmap, and a clean break from the failures of the past.

If the PDP is serious about reclaiming its place as Nigeria’s leading political force, it must look beyond political expediency and rally behind leaders who can restore hope, rebuild trust, and reunite the nation.

In Gbenga Hashim, the party has such a leader. The question is, will it rise to the occasion, or squander yet another opportunity?