Presidential aspirant and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has accused the Presidency of deliberately promoting ethnic and regional divisions as political strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement released on Monday, Olawepo-Hashim alleged that aides of President Bola Tinubu were fuelling narratives designed to split the country along North–South lines, warning that such rhetoric poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s unity and national security.

Reacting to remarks reportedly linked to the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the former presidential candidate said elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were attempting to revive regional politics to deflect attention from what he described as failures in governance.

According to him, pushing ethnic sentiments at a time when Nigerians are battling economic hardship, insecurity, and social pressure was both irresponsible and dangerous.

He argued that invoking regional loyalty to excuse poor leadership undermines the very foundations of the nation. “Using division as a shield against accountability is reckless. It contradicts the constitutional duty to preserve the unity of Nigeria,” he said.

Olawepo-Hashim maintained that Nigerians were no longer interested in where a president comes from, but in the capacity to govern effectively. He stressed that citizens want leadership that can stabilise the economy, restore security, and unite the country around a shared vision of progress.

He further noted that since the return to democratic rule in 1999, leadership opportunities have rotated across different parts of the country, insisting that geography could no longer be used as an excuse for underperformance.

“Both regions have had their turn at leadership. The real issue before the country today is competence, not ethnicity or location,” he said.

The PDP chieftain warned that resurrecting ethnic and regional sentiments in the face of worsening insecurity and economic strain only highlighted what he described as the ruling party’s lack of practical solutions.

He called on Nigerians to resist what he termed divisive politics, insisting that voters would reject appeals based on tribal or regional identity in the next election cycle.

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“As 2027 approaches, Nigerians will choose leadership over sentiment. Politics built on fear and division has no future,” Olawepo-Hashim declared.