A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Hashim, a chieftain of the has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of engaging in legal and institutional actions aimed at weakening opposition participation in the 2027 general elections
In a statement issued on Sunday by his media office, Hashim declared that no legal or administrative manoeuvres could derail Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
He further stated that the ruling APC would be defeated in the 2027 general elections.
Hashim, a long-standing figure in Nigeria’s pro democracy movement, described the situation as “part of a broader pattern that raises serious concerns about the future of democratic competition in the country.”
According to him, the development reflects past attempts to undermine political pluralism in Nigeria.
“We have travelled this road before under Abacha’s dictatorship, and it ended in victory for the forces of genuine democracy, while the plotters of one man rule were disgraced,” Hashim stated
The PDP chieftain reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multiparty democracy, noting that the nation’s founding fathers deliberately chose political pluralism at independence and embedded it in the country’s constitutional framework.
“Our founding fathers opted for multiparty democracy, and by the grace of God, that legacy will be preserved. No group, no matter how clever or determined, will succeed in destroying Nigeria’s democratic system by the Grace of God ” he said.
Hashim warned against any drift towards authoritarianism, drawing parallels with the political history of Zaire under the late Mobutu Sese Seko, where prolonged one man rule eroded democratic institutions.
“One man rule or one party rule will not happen here. This is Nigeria. We will not allow anyone to reduce our democracy to a tragic parody, as was the case with Zaire under Mobutu Sese Seko,” he added.
He also expressed concern over what he described as selective administrative decisions in the political party registration process.
Hashim alleged that while some qualified political associations have reportedly stalled in the process, others perceived to be aligned with the ruling party have received interim recognition.
Describing these trends as warning signs of democratic backsliding, he called on Nigerians and the international community to remain vigilant in defending democratic norms.
Hashim urged “lovers of democracy across the world” to consider lawful and targeted accountability measures against individuals allegedly working to undermine Nigeria’s multiparty system.
He noted that such measures, where supported by credible evidence and due process, could include travel restrictions and the freezing of assets.
He stressed that democracy could only be safeguarded through transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to constitutional principles.
Hashim said that despite the current challenges, “Nigerians would defend democracy and remove the APC from power peacefully, constitutionally, and through the ballot in 2027.”
‘We’ve seen this before’, Hashim warns APC against one-party agenda
