The city of Jos came alive on Wednesday as thousands of supporters of the former presidential candidate and frontline PDP chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, staged a massive procession to the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State to reject the partyโs zoning arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The crowd, made up of enthusiastic supporters from across the six North Central states, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau marched through major streets of Jos chanting solidarity songs, waving banners, and carrying placards with inscriptions such as โZoning is Injustice,โ โNorth Central Must Be Heard,โ and โHashim 2027: A New Hope.โ
The demonstration, which caused heavy traffic gridlock across the city, was peaceful as security operatives deployed along the routes ensured order while the procession advanced toward the PDP Secretariat.
Leaders of the movement presented a petition at the PDP secretariat, condemning the partyโs decision to zone its presidential ticket to the South. They described the move as a betrayal of equity and fairness, arguing that the North Central geopolitical zone, despite being a stabilizing bloc in Nigeriaโs politics has never produced a president or vice president since the return to democracy in 1999.
Speaking during the rally, one of the speakers said, โWe are here to tell our leaders in the PDP that zoning must not be manipulated. The North Central has sacrificed enough. Dr. Gbenga Hashim is our candidate, and we will not accept any arrangement that sidelines our region again.โ
Another leader of the march stressed that Nigerians were yearning for visionary and competent leadership, not sectional politics.
โDr. Hashim has the character, experience, and intellectual depth to lead Nigeria. What we want is fairness, justice, and competence. North Central must not be excluded in 2027,โ she said.
They called on the PDP leadership under Acting National Chairman, Iliya Damagun, to reconsider the zoning formula ahead of the partyโs national convention in Ibadan, while urging North Central stakeholders to unite behind Hashimโs candidacy.
โThe North Central region has a rich history of producing leaders who shaped the nationโs trajectory. We cannot allow this unjust denial at such a critical moment,โ the groups added.
Political analysts say the Jos procession marks one of the strongest signals yet that zoning will remain a contentious issue in the buildup to the 2027 elections.
With Dr. Gbenga Hashim emerging as a rallying point for North Central aspirations, the PDP may face internal pressure to revisit its zoning arrangement or risk alienating one of its most loyal blocs.
For the supporters, the march was not just a show of numbers but a declaration of intent. They vowed to mobilize across the North Central and beyond to ensure that Dr. Hashim secures the PDP ticket, positioning him as a strong contender in the 2027 presidential race.
As chants of โHashim 2027!โ echoed through the streets of Jos, it became clear that the zoning debate within the PDP is far from over, and the North Central is ready to stake its claim for Nigeriaโs highest office.