Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be removed from power in the 2027 general elections, insisting that no legal or administrative manoeuvres can derail Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

Hashim, a veteran of Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement, alleged that the ruling APC is engaging in legal and institutional actions aimed at weakening opposition participation ahead of the next election cycle. He described these developments as part of a broader pattern that raises 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 stated.

The PDP chieftain reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multiparty democracy, noting that the nation’s founding fathers deliberately chose political pluralism at independence and embedded it in the country’s constitutional framework.

“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 said.

Hashim warned against any drift toward authoritarianism, drawing parallels with Zaire under the late Mobutu Sese Seko, where prolonged one-man rule eroded 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 expressed concern over what he described as selective administrative decisions in the political party registration process. Hashim alleged that while some qualified political associations have stalled in the process, others perceived to be aligned with the ruling party have received interim recognition.

Describing these trends as warning signs of democratic backsliding, he called on Nigerians and the international community to remain vigilant in defending democratic norms. He urged “lovers of democracy across the world” to consider lawful and targeted accountability measures, where supported by credible evidence and due process, including travel restrictions and asset freezes against individuals allegedly undermining Nigeria’s multiparty system.

Hashim emphasized that democracy can only be safeguarded through transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to constitutional principles. He concluded by expressing confidence that, despite current challenges, Nigerians would rise to defend democracy and remove the APC from power peacefully, constitutionally, and through the ballot in 2027. (Vanguard)

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