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The Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM) has stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan will not receive a “free ride” to the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 elections.
Responding to comments attributed to Professor Jerry Gana, who hinted at Jonathan’s possible return under the PDP, the National Coordinator of GHSM, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, emphasised that the party’s presidential candidate would be chosen through an open and transparent process in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022.
“With due respect, Prof. Jerry Gana is entitled to his enthusiasm about the return of former President Jonathan. However, only PDP delegates to the national convention can pick the party’s flagbearer, and ultimately, God Almighty will determine the outcome, not a few party stalwarts,” Hamzat said in a statement.
Hamzat argued that Nigerians are seeking progress, not a return to previous leadership, claiming that Jonathan represents an “old order” which many citizens are eager to leave behind.
“The Jonathan era cannot be painted as a perfect time. It was a period when the diversity of our nation began to be deeply mismanaged, rekindling ethnic tensions and religious bigotry, a legacy that has unfortunately worsened under subsequent governments,” he added.
He further revisited Jonathan’s record in foreign affairs, criticising Nigeria’s 2011 decision to diverge from the African Union and support NATO’s intervention in Libya.
He referred to the move as a “strategic blunder” which led to destabilisation in the Sahel region and intensified insecurity in Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, and several other West African nations.
On domestic matters, the GHSM coordinator maintained that Jonathan still faces unresolved allegations of corruption from his time in office, specifically pointing to the widely reported Dasukigate arms procurement scandal.
Hamzat affirmed that the PDP continues to function as a democratic party where no aspirant, including former presidents, should assume they will receive automatic approval.
“If President Jonathan desires a return to Aso Rock, he must be ready to square up with nationally unifying aspirants such as Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim in an open and transparent primary,” Hamzat declared.
He reiterated that Nigerians need fresh leadership and a renewed vision to confront the country’s issues, asserting that “the only way forward is forward, not backwards.”
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