Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has issued a strong declaration of resilience, stating that the opposition party remains unshaken by what he describes as legal and political manoeuvres aimed at weakening it. He delivered this message in a statement to journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
A Firm Stand for Multiparty Democracy
Olawepo-Hashim asserted that he is "not intimidated by the legal and political subterfuges sponsored by the ruling APC." He emphasised a core belief that Nigeria's democratic foundation is too robust for any single entity to dominate. "No individual or party can monopolise power in Nigeria," he insisted.
He rooted his argument in history, reminding the nation that its founding fathers consciously chose a multiparty system at independence to manage the country's vast diversity. "Nigeria has always been committed to multiparty democracy," Hashim stated, noting that even in the First Republic, power was never concentrated in one hand.
Historical Parallels and a Stark Warning
To illustrate his point, Hashim recalled the vibrant political landscape of the past. In the North, the Northern People's Congress under Sir Ahmadu Bello coexisted with influential parties like Aminu Kano's NEPU, J.S. Tarka's Middle Belt Congress, and the Borno People's Union of Sir Kashim Ibrahim. Similarly, in the South West, the Action Group vigorously competed with the NCNC and local parties.
"Our democracy has never been a democracy of one star flying in its firmament," he said poetically. "In our sky are thousands of stars."
He then drew a direct and chilling comparison to the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha. Hashim pointed to Abacha's failed attempt to become the sole presidential candidate of all five registered parties in the 1990s. "We are living witnesses to the failure of that plot," he declared.
However, he warned that the current situation presents "a more sinister twist." While Abacha sought to be the only candidate, Hashim alleged that the present agenda is to ensure no major opposition party is strong enough to field a credible candidate. He expressed absolute confidence that this plan would also fail spectacularly.
Personal History and a Prophecy of Failure
Invoking his personal activism, Hashim stressed that the fight for democracy was won domestically. "We fought the self-succession plot here at home, not as self-styled exiled democrats sipping cognac in foreign embassies," he remarked pointedly. He revealed his presence as part of an internal resistance delegation at Fort IBB on June 8, 1998, a critical juncture in the nation's history.
Concluding with a blend of faith and historical certainty, Hashim predicted the collapse of what he termed the "APC-or-no-other-party agenda." "Just as the Abacha plot ended unrealised, this infantile machination will end in disaster for its authors, by the grace of God," he stated. "The same God who granted us the grace to witness the collapse of the Abacha plot will also help us see the end" of the current political strategy, he affirmed.
