A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party has declared that Nigeria’s Southwest region will not support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing what he described as failed governance.
Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, who serves as Southwest Coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, asserted in a statement released to journalists in Ilorin. His comments came as a response to recent remarks by Reno Omokri, who had called on the Southwest and Northern regions to unite behind Tinubu in the upcoming election.
Omokri’s appeal drew parallels to the North’s decision to support former President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election in 2019 despite concerns about his first-term performance. He also highlighted what he termed Tinubu’s achievements, including GDP expansion and infrastructure development in Northern Nigeria.
Olaniyi rejected this comparison outright. He characterized Omokri’s statement as political manipulation and insisted that electoral support should be based on competence rather than regional loyalty or emotional appeals. According to him, the Southwest electorate is too informed to endorse what he called widespread hardship and economic decline.
The PDP figure pointed to Nigeria’s economic trajectory as evidence of systemic failure. He noted that the country’s GDP dropped from over 570 billion dollars in 2014 to less than 300 billion dollars currently, representing nearly a 50 percent decline. Olaniyi described this as more severe than a typical recession, pointing to rising inflation, joblessness, and poverty levels.
He dismissed official claims of GDP growth as misleading, arguing that currency devaluation created an illusion of expansion while living standards continued to deteriorate. Olaniyi emphasized that ordinary Nigerians experience economic reality through the cost of food and basic necessities, not through statistical indicators.
The statement positioned Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as a viable alternative candidate for the Southwest. Olaniyi described him as a leader with international experience and economic expertise capable of bridging regional divides through fair and competent governance.
He suggested that support for Olawepo-Hashim is growing across Southwest states including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti. According to Olaniyi, the PDP chieftain represents the fresh direction that Nigeria requires at this juncture.
Olaniyi also directed a message to Northern political leaders, urging them to reject what he termed divisive rhetoric and instead align with progressive leadership committed to national recovery.
He framed the 2027 election as a critical moment for Nigeria, calling on voters to prioritize competent leadership over sentiment. Olaniyi concluded by asserting that the Southwest is prepared to champion this change, with Olawepo-Hashim serving as the focal point for that movement.
