Former presidential aspirant, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be voted out of power in the 2027 general elections, accusing the ruling party of taking illegal and institutional steps to weaken opposition parties ahead of the polls.
In a statement released on Monday, Olawepo-Hashim alleged that the APC was deliberately manipulating state institutions to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process. He maintained, however, that such actions would ultimately fail, noting that even the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, was unable to suppress democracy in the country.
According to him, no legal or administrative manoeuvres could derail Nigeria’s multiparty system, which he described as deeply rooted in the nation’s political history and constitutional framework.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain described the current developments as part of a troubling pattern that threatens 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 architects of one-man rule were disgraced,” he said.
Olawepo-Hashim reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to political pluralism, stressing that the country’s founding fathers deliberately adopted a multiparty democracy 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.
He warned against any slide toward authoritarianism, drawing parallels with Zaire under the late Mobutu Sese Seko, where prolonged one-man rule led to the collapse of democratic institutions.
“One-man rule or one-party rule will not happen here. This is Nigeria. We will not allow anyone to turn our democracy into a tragic parody, as was the case in Zaire under Mobutu,” he added.
Olawepo-Hashim also expressed concern over what he described as selective administrative practices in the political party registration process. He alleged that while some qualified political associations remained stalled, others perceived to be aligned with the ruling party had been granted 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 further urged “lovers of democracy across the world” to consider lawful and targeted accountability measures—supported by credible evidence and due process—such as travel restrictions and asset freezes against individuals allegedly working to undermine Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system.
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