A former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has described the outcome of the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections as a signal of political resurgence for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Sunday, February 22, Hashim congratulated party members and supporters for what he called an outstanding performance despite internal challenges and political pressure.
“The PDP is a resurgent party. Despite leadership disputes at the national level and deliberate efforts to weaken our structure in the FCT, the people stood firmly by the party,” he said.
While the PDP was officially declared the winner in one Area Council, Olawepo-Hashim claimed the party should have secured victories in three additional councils, alleging that its mandate was undermined in those areas.
“The PDP is not declining. The PDP is rebuilding. And this is only the beginning,” he said.
Beyond the chairmanship contests, the party also won several councillorship seats across the FCT, which Hashim described as proof of sustained grassroots loyalty and organisational resilience.
He commended ward leaders, polling unit agents and supporters for their “unshakable loyalty to the party logo.”
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“You cannot suppress structure. You cannot intimidate conviction. The grassroots have spoken,” he added.
Hashim said the FCT performance marked the beginning of a broader political revival for the opposition party, expressing optimism that a united and stabilised PDP would be formidable in 2027.
“This election marks the start of our resurgence. If we can perform this strongly under strain, imagine what a united and fully stabilised PDP will achieve in 2027,” he said.
The FCT Area Council elections are often seen as a political barometer ahead of national contests, taking place in the nation’s capital and involving extensive grassroots mobilisation.
The polls also occurred amid ongoing leadership disputes within the PDP, raising questions about party cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections.