Coalition adopts Hashim-Olawepo consensus candidate

Over 7 million Nigerians, mostly youths and women, have picked People’s Trust (PT) presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim-Olawepo, as the most preferred among the new breed of presidential hopefuls.

Hashim-Olawepo emerged the most popular choice at the end of an online voting exercise on Thursday.

He was picked ahead of five presidential candidates, including Donald Duke of SDP, Kingsley Moghalu of YPP, Fela Durotoye of ANN and Omoyele Sowore of AAC.

The poll moderator and spokesperson of Alliance for Defence of Democracy ADD, organisers of the third force primary polls, declared the PT candidate winner of the contest.

He is thus expected to slug it out as the consensus third force candidate with President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP on Saturday.

7, 539,000 voted in the poll conducted online by Alliance for Defence of Democracy ADD, a newly launched advocacy Coalition of third force stakeholders.

Spokesperson of the Tactical Selection Council, Prof Anthony Kila, who is also the Director of Centre for International and Advance Studies CIAPS, announced Olawepo-Hashim garnered 5,735,000, while his runner up, Sowore Omoyele bagged 2,342,000.

Former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke of SDP pulled 2,310,000 votes while Kingsley Moghalu of YPP recently endorsed by literary giant, Prof Wole Soyinka, came fourth with 1,950,000 votes.

Fela Durotoye of ANN secured 1,570,000 votes to emerge fifth.

Kila said by the historic consensus arrangement of the third force movement, the winner has become first among equals and shall be expected to form a coalition government of National unity and reconciliation to return Nigeria on the path of stability and economic prosperity ADD, according to Kila, will be opening its situation room for the 2019 elections today from where the coalition will monitor election progress and also give instructions to its elections vigilantes to curb all forms of rigging from any party.

http://thenationonlineng.net/third-force-coalition-adopts-olawepo-hashim-as-consensus-presidential-candidate/

Gbenga Olawepo- Hashim is the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Trust (PT), the party endorsed by a coalition of civil society organisations also known as the Third Force. In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he bares his mind on the postponement of the 2019 general elections by the Indepndent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Excerpts:

As one of the presidential candidates contesting in the 2019 general elections, how do you feel when INEC announced the postponement of the exercise?

Ordinarily, it will be disappointing because of the logistics problems and the stress it places on everyone; the electorates, stakeholders and so on. My appeal now is that INEC should get the next postponed date, which is February 23rd right. I wonder why they are in a haste to announce a new date. I thought they should have discussed with the stakeholders that will participate in the elections before they quickly fix another date. The election is not just for INEC. It’s for the voters; it’s for the parties who are nominating agents, who will be mobilising their members. Some of them may have to repeat the cost and the logistics that they have deployed already. So, INEC cannot arbitrarily postpone the election without consulting with the other stakeholders. What is important is that we should have a credible election and at the end of the day, our country is better for it.

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Some are accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari of being behind the postponement. Do you also share this view?

This is not the first time we are seeing this. We saw it under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. We saw it under Goodluck Jonathan. Even the election that produced President Buhari in 2015 was postponed by six weeks but Jonathan did not benefit from that postponement. I did not see how the postponement will benefit the incumbent President. But what is important is that INEC must not do things hastily. If they postpone for six weeks under Jonathan, why should it be one week now? Are they saying they would have gotten everything right by next week? So, whatever they have not done right now, can they to do it in one week? They need to do things properly so that we can have a credible election. So, I don’t believe President Buhari has anything to do with this. My belief is that INEC leadership should not put itself under unnecessary pressure. They should do their job properly and let’s have a credible election.


https://www.independent.ng/inec-must-not-put-itself-under-unnecessary-pressure-olawepo-hashim/amp/

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim: I don’t see how postponement of election will benefit President Buhari

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, presidential candidate of the People’s Trust (PT), one of the political parties contesting the postponed presidential elections, has said it is unfair to link President Muhammadu Buhari with the postponement of the 2019 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Olawepo-Hashim, who condemned the hasty decision by INEC without consultations with the critical stakeholders said he did not see how the postponement will benefit President Buhari who is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

While calling for a free, fair and violence-free elections, Olawepo-Hashim said he doubts if the electoral umpire can get things right in just one week especially given the fact that the 2015 general elections was postponed by six weeks.

“On the issue of postponement, this is not the first time we are seeing this. We saw it under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. We saw it under Goodluck Jonathan.

“Even the election that produced President Buhari was postponed by six weeks but Jonathan did not benefit from that postponement. I did not see how the postponement will benefit the incumbent President.

“But what is important is that INEC must not do things hastily. If they postpone for six weeks under Jonathan, why should it be one week now? Are they saying they would have gotten everything right by next week?”

“So, whatever they have not done right now, can they to do it in one week? They need to do things properly so that we can have a credible election. So, I don’t believe President Buhari has anything to do with this.

“My belief is that INEC leadership should not put themselves under unnecessary pressure. They should do their job properly and let’s have a credible election,” he said.

Third Force Presidential candidate running on the People’s Trust (PT) platform, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has written the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu requesting a further extension of the Presidential and National Assembly elections because the one week extension is rather too short to conclude the stated enormous logistics requirement for the polls.

The candidate, who lately led the online polls of most preferred candidate amongst the third force, argued in a letter to the INEC chairman that another extension was reasonable in view of the logistics burden on the contestants and the parties. The candidates and the parties, he said, would now have to repeat logistics preparations that have hitherto been deployed to achieve the level of mobilization at the February 16 scheduled election.

He stressed that “It is my considered opinion that in the haste to stick to a quickly announced date for the election, the Commission may not have paid adequate attention to the attendant voter apathy that may result if adequate confidence building measures are not implemented to win back ‘would-be’ voters for the next date of polling”

As a result and because a potential voter’s apathy in some section of the country or all of the country may substantially affect  the   results of the election, a ”new date of election should be between three to four weeks from February 16 not one week from February 16 as previously announced. This is more so for self-funded candidates and political parties who do not have the possibilities or intentions of falling quickly on the State treasuries to refinance another logistic deployment”

The candidate regarded as one of the most cerebral amongst the contenders noted that campaigning should also resume undoubtedly in consonance with extant legislation that allow campaign to continue up till 24 hours before elections, in order to achieve the same level of mobilization of voters as before February 16th.

In his letter copied to the United Nations representatives, Observer and Civil Society Groups, the diplomatic community and the media he added that “the Commission should liaise with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who should use their national networks to ensure mobilization of communities, social and interest groups to reach potential voters in order to avoid voter apathy at the next date of election”

Few days to the 2019 presidential election, the People’s Trust (PT) presidential candidate, Mr, Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has maintained the lead as most popular presidential candidate online.

According to Abuja based research outfit, Grandplan, a weekly social media rating of presidential candidates’ engagements on Facebook, on Tuesday showed that the candidate of Peoples Trust (PT), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim was leading as the most popular presidential candidate online three days to the 2019 Presidential election.


The Grandplan data showed that Mr. Hashim was ahead of the incumbent President and All Progressive Congress, (APC’s) Presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari and major opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“Mr Hashim who first overtook President Buhari and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar on 10th December 2018 has remained on top with the highest engagements on social media consecutively ever since. Going by the data on Tuesday, February 12th, 2019 in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim recorded Facebook engagements in excess of 63,000 this week, while Atiku Abubakar who came behind him, recorded 56,000+.

“Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari is far behind with only 6000+ engagements. The statistics also showed that the Presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Kingsley Moghalu, the candidate of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye and others were trailing behind,” the data analysts said.

The data analysts involved in the polling project said that the data on each of the candidates’ were realistic because ‘Facebook represents the broad spectrum of voters who will vote in the February poll.’

According to them, “increasing engagements imply voters’ growing interest in the candidates while a decreasing result reflects voters’ disenchantment. A static return means a candidate is at a crossroads in the campaign.”

The analysts said in their report that Olawepo-Hashim’s growing engagement rating is a measure of voters’ interest in him as a third force alternative. “He is no longer part of the pack of third-party candidates. He has moved ahead to emerge as a real alternative to both Buhari and Atiku. This is a game changer from data perspective,” Segun Seriki, the lead analyst for the project, said.

“The latest data point to a major upset within the struggle for Nigeria’s presidency, we are making the report available to all the
major candidates. Our latest data reflect a major upset in the battle for the presidency. It is no longer a two- horse race. There is now a third force that is overtaking the old alternatives. We are still following the data but for now, Olawepo-Hashim has pulled the impossible to maintain an eight weeks lead over President Buhari and Atiku Abubakar,” he said.m is still leading as the most popular presidential candidate online three days to the 2019 Presidential election.
The Grandplan data showed that Mr. Hashim was ahead of the incumbent President and All Progressive Congress, (APC’s) Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and major opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate,
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“Mr Hashim who first overtook President Buhari and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar on 10th December 2018 has remained on top with the highest engagements on social media consecutively ever since. Going by the data on Tuesday, February 12th, 2019 in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim recorded Facebook engagements in excess of 63,000 this week, while Atiku Abubakar who came behind him, recorded 56,000+.

“Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari is far behind with only 6000+ engagements. The statistics also showed that the Presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Kingsley Moghalu, the candidate of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye and others were trailing behind,” the data analysts said.

The data analysts involved in the polling project said that the data on each of the candidates’ were realistic because ‘Facebook represents the broad spectrum of voters who will vote in the February poll.’

According to them, “Increasing engagements imply voters’ growing interest in the candidates while a decreasing result reflects voters’ disenchantment. A static return means a candidate is at a crossroads in the campaign.”

The analysts said in their report that Olawepo-Hashim’s growing engagement rating is a measure of voters’ interest in him as a third force alternative. “He is no longer part of the pack of third-party candidates. He has moved ahead to emerge as a real alternative to both Buhari and Atiku. This is a game changer from data perspective,” Segun Seriki, the lead analyst for the project, said.

“The latest data point to a major upset within the struggle for Nigeria’s presidency, we are making the report available to all the major candidates. Our latest data reflect a major upset in the battle for the presidency. It is no longer a two- horse race. There is now a third force that is overtaking the old alternatives. We are still following the data but for now, Olawepo-Hashim has pulled the impossible to maintain an eight weeks lead over President Buhari and Atiku Abubakar,” he said.

Days after the controversial 2019 presidential Debate, the Presidential flag bearer of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) Fela Durotoye and his counterpart in Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) Dr. Oby Ezekwesili have dropped their presidential ambition.

Sources close to both candidates explained that, both Oby and Fela may likely support People’s Trust Presidential Flag bearer, Olawepo Hashim.

The duo, who made this announcement at the early hour of Thursday on their social media handles applauded Nigerians and their supporters for the love and encouragement so far and promises to always keep their political promises through, a 3rd Force coalition, which is likely going to be People’s Trust Olawepo Hashim who has the strength and structure to competitively stand as the third force candidate to dethrone the incompetent administration of Muhammedu Buhari.

They boldly stated in their statement that only the coalition of New Generation of a third force can dislodge the self acclaimed Political Lords (APC/PDP) of Nigeria. “2019 begins another 20 year cycle, and together with all Nigerians of goodwill, I will stand ready to play my part to ensure that we do not miss this opportunity to sing a new song. We have no more time to waste, let’s get to work, from last year; I have made it clear to the nation that Nigeria has always had a 20year cycle of change, 1959, 1979, and 1999” in her statement.

To everyone who think talk is cheap, should listen to his analysis with verified fact that $4Trillion is achievable. He's not a candidate that is looking for a cheap publicity, nor a top alliance with other party who their intention is to milk the resources of this nation. He's a top candidate with all round possibilities of bringing back a desiring Nigerian to All of US.

I have carefully follow is page and articles and i feel, He deserve to Rule us as a President. One of his quote i enjoy most is the part that he said "Every Nigerian Life is a Treasure to Value, and for who ever KILL a NIGERIAN MUST PAY FOR IT" Isn't that worthy alone to vote for a MAN whose Every Nigerians life means alot to. Who has a plan to strengthen Nigerian Security with Technology and improved human strength on Training and Retraining, also, he's set to fight Corruption by Decentralizing the Centre of Public Officers Contact where transactions will be made with technology in order to curb mostly the kick backs.

It is proven that the Mr. Integrity (Buhari) himself lacks the Integrity as claimed by the Wife of the President Aisha Buhari, "saying her husband means well for the country BUT..." The BUTis the gimmick behind the whole thing.

Statically it is proven by when he was elected as the president and to what we see now.

I have INTEGRITY and Virtually every NIGERIA has integrity.

VOTE HASHIM2019

First thing is to identify GREATNESS, the other to know who FAILED the NATION.
Atiku was in power with OBJ and surely we know the corrupt cases against HIM.
Buhari was a toss-aclaim Messaih which was branded in 2014 as an INCORRUPTIBLE and the MAN of INTEGRITY, But today you know the rest of the story.

GBENGA OLAWEPO-HASHIM remain a candidate you all need to see beyond the OLD LIARS. Its time to retire the OLD Politician. Enough of ball game, between the APC and PDP. if the Money didn't come to them they go against d seating President.

OLAWEPO, He needs not godfatherism, He needs no CABAL, He's the 3rd FORCE to watch out. He's not going to play Politics with the people of Nigeria. He's a TABLE SHAKER, who will bring about the desired Betterment of this Country.

VOTE WISELY
#NIGERIAGOHBETTER

With the resources available in Nigeria today, creating 16Million Jobs is possible.

If those who go about bet can create employment for the low life, what makes you think putting all hands on deck, a 16Million jobs not realistic. If a resourceful MAN is elected as President, creating such jobs is achievable.

GOHASHIM2019
#NigeriaGOHbetter