He Warns Against an “Orchestrated” Wipe-Out of the Opposition
Former presidential hopeful and ex-PDP chieftain Olawepo-Hashim told reporters yesterday that he has torn up his membership card. In his view, the All Progressives Congress has virtually annexed the People’s Democratic Party, and he now fears a wider plan to snuff out every real opposition platform ahead of 2027.
“I’m done,” he said flatly, holding up the shredded card at a small press briefing in Abuja. “What we have today is a PDP that takes orders from the same people it claims to challenge. That is not opposition; it is co-option.”
Olawepo-Hashim accused unnamed power brokers of bankrolling internal crises in smaller parties so they cannot meet the Independent National Electoral Commission registration rules. “They starve them of funds, whip up court cases, then convince the public that only the big two matter,” he said. “Before long, we wake up to a one-party state by default.”
He called on civil-society groups, labour unions, faith organisations and younger voters to build “non-negotiable safeguards” against any erosion of pluralism. “If we do nothing, elections will become coronations,” he added.
The politician, who also previously ran on the ANN ticket, did not reveal his next move. He insisted he is “not in a hurry to join any label” until he sees concrete proof of internal democracy and ideological clarity.
Hashim, who noted that his resignation takes immediate effect, alleged that the internal turmoil was a calculated attempt to stifle democratic competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“It has become increasingly evident that the crisis was, in part, orchestrated to weaken the PDP as a viable opposition, potentially preventing it from fielding credible candidates in 2027 or, at worst, reducing it to a position of tacit support for the incumbent administration,” he said.
The former presidential candidate lamented that despite his efforts to bridge the divisions within the party, the leadership remained compromised. He expressed disappointment that a party founded by “committed democrats” had been “brought to its knees” by individuals who prioritised personal gain over the national interest.
“To remain in a system that appears to endorse a leadership record I fundamentally disagree with would be a betrayal of my principles and commitment to the Nigerian people,” he added.
Touching on the state of the nation, Hashim highlighted widespread insecurity and economic distress as urgent challenges that current political structures are failing to address. He slammed the “wickedness and greed” of leaders who remain silent in the face of rising poverty and terrorist conflicts.
Looking ahead, Hashim signaled his intent to participate in a new political movement.
“I am compelled by the urgent political realities of our time to collaborate with other patriotic leaders and citizens committed to preventing the emergence of a one-party state and to building a new political order that guarantees security, justice, and economic prosperity for all Nigerians,” he said.
