Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, former presidential candidate and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy could be at risk if the ongoing crisis within the party is not addressed urgently.
In a statement released on Sunday, November 16, in Kwara State, Olawepo-Hashim criticised the faction of the PDP that went ahead with the controversial national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, despite conflicting court orders.
He noted that the event has deepened divisions and widened rifts within the once-dominant opposition party.
Reflecting on the PDP’s origins, Olawepo-Hashim said the party’s founding 27 years ago represented a rare moment of political consensus.
He recalled that the PDP emerged from the merger of more than 13 political associations, built through “dialogue, broad consultation, and a deep spirit of inclusion.”
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He said, “The founding fathers of the PDP deliberately built a platform capable of preventing further military intervention in governance, safeguarding national unity, and strengthening federalism.
“This inclusive foundation gave the PDP an early advantage, enabling it to win nearly two-thirds of elective positions in the December 1998 local government elections, a milestone that helped stabilise Nigeria’s returning democratic order in 1999.”
Olawepo-Hashim expressed concern that the party has strayed from its original values, with “fragmentation, court-induced confusion, and exclusionary politics” now defining its leadership.
He added, “Inclusion, not exclusion, is the tradition of the PDP. We must strive to bring all sides back to the table to save the PDP and save Nigeria’s democracy. We must not leave anyone behind.”
Since losing the presidency in 2015, the PDP has faced recurring internal fractures, leadership disputes, and factional rivalries, all of which have eroded its cohesion and influence across the country.