Presidential hopeful on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be removed from power in the 2027 general elections, insisting that Nigeria’s multiparty democracy cannot be derailed by legal or administrative maneuvers.
Hashim, a veteran of the country’s pro-democracy movement, accused the ruling APC of engaging in actions aimed at weakening opposition participation ahead of the next electoral cycle. He described these developments as part of a worrying pattern that threatens the future of democratic competition 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 said.
The PDP chieftain reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multiparty democracy, highlighting that the nation’s founding fathers deliberately enshrined political pluralism 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,” he stated.
Hashim also warned against any drift toward authoritarianism, drawing parallels with 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,” he added.
He further raised concerns over perceived selective administrative decisions in the political party registration process, alleging that while some qualified political associations remain stalled, others aligned with the ruling party have received interim recognition.
Describing these trends as warning signs of democratic backsliding, Hashim called on Nigerians and the international community to remain vigilant in defending democratic norms. He suggested lawful accountability measures, including travel restrictions and asset freezes against individuals allegedly undermining Nigeria’s multiparty system.
Despite these challenges, the PDP aspirant expressed confidence that Nigerians would defend democracy and remove the APC from power peacefully, constitutionally, and through the ballot in 2027.
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