APC will lose power in 2027 despite legal moves against PDP — Gbenga Hashim

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Gbenga Hashim, has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will be voted out of power in the 2027 general elections, insisting that legal or administrative actions against the opposition will not derail Nigeria’s democracy.

Hashim, a veteran of Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle, accused the APC-led government of deploying legal and institutional tactics aimed at weakening opposition parties ahead of the next election cycle. He said such actions raise serious concerns about the future of democratic competition in the country.

“We have travelled this road before under Abacha’s dictatorship, and it ended in victory for the forces of genuine democracy, while the plotters of one-man rule were disgraced,” Hashim said.

The PDP chieftain reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multiparty democracy, noting that political pluralism was deliberately chosen by the country’s founding fathers and firmly entrenched in the constitution.

“Our founding fathers opted for multiparty democracy, and by the grace of God, that legacy will be preserved. No group, no matter how clever or determined, will succeed in destroying Nigeria’s democratic system,” he stated.

Hashim warned against any slide toward authoritarianism, drawing parallels with Zaire under the late Mobutu Sese Seko, where prolonged one-man rule weakened democratic institutions.

“One-man rule or one-party rule will not happen here. This is Nigeria. We will not allow anyone to reduce our democracy to a tragic parody, as was the case with Zaire under Mobutu,” he added.

He also raised concerns over what he described as selective administrative actions in the political party registration process, alleging that while some qualified political associations have remained stalled, others perceived to be aligned with the ruling party were granted interim recognition.

Describing the situation as a sign of democratic backsliding, Hashim urged Nigerians and the international community to remain vigilant in defending democratic values. He called on “lovers of democracy across the world” to consider lawful and targeted accountability measures — where backed by credible evidence and due process — including travel restrictions and asset freezes against individuals allegedly undermining Nigeria’s multiparty system.

Hashim stressed that democracy can only be protected through transparency, accountability and strict adherence to constitutional principles. He concluded by expressing confidence that Nigerians would peacefully and constitutionally defend democracy and remove the APC from power through the ballot in 2027.

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