Gbenga Hashim, chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asserted that the All Progressives Congress, APC, will be voted out in the 2027 general elections.
He stated that no legal or administrative manoeuvres can derail Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Hashim further alleged that “the ruling APC is engaging in legal and institutional actions aimed at weakening opposition participation ahead of the next election cycle.”
In a statement released to journalists in Kaduna on Sunday by his media office, Hashim described these developments as part of a broader pattern that raises serious concerns about the future of democratic competition in the country.
According to him, “Such developments mirror past attempts to undermine political pluralism in Nigeria”, efforts that were ultimately defeated by the collective will of the people.
“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 remarked.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to multiparty democracy, the PDP presidential hopeful highlighted that the nation’s founding fathers deliberately chose political pluralism at independence and enshrined it in the constitution.
“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 added.
Hashim also cautioned against any drift toward authoritarianism, drawing comparisons with Zaire under the late Mobutu Sese Seko, where extended one-man rule weakened 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 stressed.
He raised concerns about what he described as selective administrative decisions in the political party registration process.
Hashim alleged that while some qualified political associations have reportedly faced delays, others perceived to be aligned with the ruling party have received interim recognition.
Describing these patterns as warning signs of democratic backsliding, he urged Nigerians and the international community to remain vigilant in defending democratic norms.
Hashim called on “lovers of democracy across the world” to consider lawful and targeted accountability measures against individuals allegedly working to undermine Nigeria’s multiparty system.
He clarified that such measures, when backed by credible evidence and due process, could include travel restrictions and freezing of assets.
He emphasised that his concerns extend to the conduct of political actors and institutions, underlining that democracy can only be safeguarded through transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to constitutional principles.
Concluding, Hashim said that despite current challenges, Nigerians would rise to defend democracy and remove the APC from power peacefully, constitutionally, and through the ballot in 2027.
