2027: N’Central Youths Endorse Olawepo-Hashim For President

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja 

A coalition of youth leaders from across the North Central zone has thrown its weight behind astute politician and businessman, Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, as their preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential poll.

 The endorsement was made public in Abuja at the weekend by the Youth for the Actualization of North Central President (YANCP), a political movement gaining rapid traction among young people advocating for regional justice and national inclusion.

 Amid cheers and chants of “North Central for President,” YANCP’s National Coordinator, Comrade Ibrahim Musa, said the group’s endorsement was not just a political statement but a historic call for fairness.

According to him: “The North Central has bled, sacrificed, and stood firm at every critical juncture in Nigeria’s history. Yet, we have remained sidelined when it comes to the ultimate leadership position. This injustice must end, and in Dr. Olawepo-Hashim, we have found the statesman to lead that charge.”

 Olawepo-Hashim is widely respected as a founding figure of Nigeria’s democracy movement. A former presidential candidate and one-time deputy national publicity secretary of the PDP, he has long positioned himself as a bridge between regions, generations, and ideologies.

His background as both a political activist and a successful businessman gives him what YANCP described as the “rare combination of experience and vision” needed to rebuild Nigeria from the ground up.

“We are tired of recycled politics,” said Fatima Tanko, YANCP’s National Secretary. “Dr. Hashim brings intellectual depth, economic foresight, and moral clarity. He is not just from the North Central, he is for all Nigerians.”

Often referred to as Nigeria’s “Middle Belt,” the North Central region is known for its ethnic diversity and geopolitical significance. It has produced Senate Presidents, military chiefs, and strategic national influencers, but has never produced an elected president.