By Muhammad Mamman
The Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM) has insisted that former President Goodluck Jonathan will not receive an automatic ticket to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group was reacting to comments credited to Professor Jerry Gana, a former Minister of Information, who hinted at Jonathan’s possible return under the PDP.
In a statement, GHSM National Coordinator, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, said the party’s candidate would emerge through an open and transparent primary in line with the Electoral Act 2022.
“Only PDP delegates at the national convention can choose the flagbearer, and ultimately, God Almighty will determine the outcome, not a few party stalwarts,” Hamzat stated.
He argued that Nigerians are yearning for progress, not a return to the past, stressing that Jonathan represents an “old order” many citizens want to leave behind.
Hamzat criticised Jonathan’s record, citing what he described as the mismanagement of Nigeria’s diversity during his tenure and a flawed foreign policy, particularly the 2011 decision to support NATO’s intervention in Libya against the African Union’s stance. He said the move destabilised the Sahel and worsened insecurity across West Africa.
Reaffirming the PDP’s democratic principles, Hamzat declared: “If Jonathan wishes to return to Aso Rock, he must be prepared to face other aspirants such as Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim in a free and fair primary.”
He concluded that Nigerians deserve fresh leadership and a forward-looking vision to address the country’s challenges, adding that “the only way forward is forward, not backwards.”
