A former presidential candidate and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party has outlined a strategy to resolve the party’s current internal friction.
During a meeting on Tuesday, the 30th of December, 2025, with the PDP National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, SAN, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim argued that the lingering leadership crisis rocking the party can be resolved within one week if stakeholders prioritize political solutions rather than prolonged legal battles.
Olawepo-Hashim emphasized that choosing diplomacy over the courts is essential for the party’s future. He asserted that the organization has the internal tools necessary to end the deadlock, stating: “There are more than enough legitimate members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, to convene a meeting and resolve this crisis within one week,”
The party chieftain pointed to specific legal provisions within the party’s framework, notably Sections 3(1) and 3(4) of the PDP Constitution, which allow two-thirds of the leadership body to call an emergency session. He noted that the majority of these members hold valid status from before the contested Ibadan convention.
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Even with the expiration of certain executive terms on the 8th of December, Olawepo-Hashim maintains that the original leadership body is still authorized to take the necessary steps to protect the party’s interests.
Historically, Olawepo-Hashim holds a deep connection to the establishment, having been among the conveners of the PDP in 1998 and he was the first elected Deputy National Publicity Secretary.