Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be voted out of power in the 2027 general elections, insisting that no legal or administrative manoeuvres can derail Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Olawepo-Hashim, a veteran of Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement, accused the ruling APC of engaging in legal and institutional actions aimed at weakening opposition participation ahead of the next election cycle.
He described the alleged moves as part of a broader pattern that raises concerns about the future of democratic competition in the country.
“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 said.
The PDP chieftain reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multiparty democracy, noting that the country’s founding fathers deliberately chose political pluralism at independence and entrenched 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,” he stated.
Olawepo-Hashim warned against any drift towards authoritarianism, drawing parallels with Zaire under the late Mobutu Sese Seko, where prolonged 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,” he added.
He also raised concerns over what he described as selective administrative decisions in the political party registration process, alleging that while some qualified political associations had stalled, others perceived to be aligned with the ruling party had received interim recognition.
Describing these developments as warning signs of democratic backsliding, he called on Nigerians and the international community to remain vigilant in defending democratic norms.
He urged “lovers of democracy across the world” to consider lawful and targeted accountability measures — supported by credible evidence and due process — including travel restrictions and asset freezes against individuals allegedly undermining Nigeria’s multiparty system.
Olawepo-Hashim stressed that democracy can only be protected through transparency, accountability and strict adherence to constitutional principles.
He expressed confidence that, despite current challenges, Nigerians would peacefully and constitutionally remove the APC from power through the ballot in 2027.
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