Former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has reaffirmed his resolve in the face of what he describes as coordinated legal and political efforts to undermine the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that Nigeria’s democratic architecture is far too entrenched to be dismantled.
In a firm statement, Hashim made it clear that he remains undeterred by what he termed calculated manoeuvres allegedly backed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that political dominance cannot be monopolised in a country as diverse as Nigeria.
He underscored that pluralism has always been central to Nigeria’s political evolution, recalling that the nation’s founders intentionally adopted a multiparty system as a stabilising mechanism at independence.
According to Hashim, even during the First Republic, power was broadly distributed across political platforms rather than concentrated in a single individual or party. He cited the era of Sir Ahmadu Bello, noting that despite his influence, other movements such as Aminu Kano’s NEPU, J.S. Tarka’s Middle Belt Congress, and the Borno People’s Union maintained strong relevance.
He added that similar dynamics existed in the South West, where the Action Group operated alongside the NCNC and other regional political blocs, reinforcing the tradition of competitive politics.
“Nigeria’s democracy has never revolved around a single dominant force,” Hashim stated, emphasising that the country’s political landscape has always accommodated multiple centres of influence.
Drawing historical parallels, he compared the current environment to the aborted self-succession agenda of late General Sani Abacha, who once sought to position himself as the sole presidential candidate across all registered parties.
Hashim warned that while the contemporary situation may be more subtle, the objective is equally troubling weakening opposition parties to the point where no credible alternative can emerge.
He expressed confidence that such strategies would ultimately fail, noting that previous attempts to suppress political competition collapsed under their own weight.
Reflecting on his role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle, Hashim highlighted that resistance to military rule was driven internally, not from abroad, recalling his participation in critical engagements during the tense period preceding Abacha’s death.
He concluded by expressing optimism that history would once again assert itself, stating that just as past anti-democratic plots were defeated, any agenda aimed at sidelining opposition parties would meet the same fate.
