Former Nigerian presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has issued a stark warning regarding the state of Nigeria’s democracy, asserting that it faces a severe threat. He alleges a deliberate and coordinated campaign by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to systematically undermine opposition politics, with the ultimate goal of establishing a one-party civilian dictatorship within the nation.

Olawepo-Hashim, delivering this message from Doha, Qatar, where he was participating in the Covenant Altar of Worship Ministry’s First Worship Convention, specifically condemned a recent Abuja Federal High Court ruling. This judicial decision effectively halted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention, which had been slated for November 15, 2025, in Ibadan. He characterized the court’s intervention not as an isolated incident, but as an integral part of a broader, calculated strategy aimed at neutralizing the PDP and, more broadly, weaponizing the judiciary against the foundational principles of multiparty democracy.

Further elaborating on his concerns, Olawepo-Hashim decried reports indicating that Alhaji Sule Lamido, a former Jigawa State Governor and a founding member of the PDP, was prevented from acquiring the nomination form required to contest for the position of National Chairman. He unequivocally labeled this incident as a blatant assault on internal party democracy, suggesting it was orchestrated to stifle legitimate leadership aspirations within the opposition.

The former presidential hopeful also pointed fingers at what he termed “fifth columnists” operating within the PDP. He accused these individuals of colluding, whether knowingly or unknowingly, with forces loyal to the APC. This internal collaboration, he argued, is actively working to frustrate and sabotage ongoing reform efforts within the PDP, preventing its revitalization as a strong and credible alternative.

Olawepo-Hashim unequivocally stated that it has become evident that both external pressures exerted by the ruling party and internal sabotage within the opposition ranks are being strategically deployed. Their collective aim, he concluded, is to impede the rebirth of the PDP as a viable and robust political force capable of defending democratic values in Nigeria. Despite these significant setbacks and challenges, he expressed a firm resolve, vowing that committed party loyalists would not permit opposition politics to be extinguished in Nigeria.

Issuing a direct challenge to those who might be celebrating what he described as a “creeping civilian dictatorship,” Olawepo-Hashim declared that “the true soldiers of democracy are still standing.” He affirmed their unwavering commitment to resist every attempt to suppress opposition and dismantle political pluralism within the country. To this end, he disclosed his intentions to resume high-level consultations with key party stakeholders immediately upon his return to Nigeria. The objective of these consultations is to rally “genuine leaders and men and women of conscience” to unite in the crucial effort to safeguard democratic freedoms. He concluded with a message of hope and resilience, assuring that “the darkest hour, they say, comes before dawn. A new day will break for Nigeria’s democracy,” and urged party members not to despair but to remain resolute.