Presidential aspirant and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has reaffirmed that the PDP stands as the only genuinely democratic political party in Nigeria — one that no individual or faction can dominate.
Speaking during a live appearance on AIT’s Democracy Today, Olawepo-Hashim said the PDP’s enduring culture of competitive primaries and strict adherence to its constitution sets it apart from other political organisations in the country.
He recalled that even as a sitting president in 2003, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had to face a hotly contested primary election for his re-election bid, squaring off against formidable challengers such as Barnabas Gemade, Abubakar Rimi, and Alex Ekwueme — aspirants from both the North and South. The 1999 presidential primary, he noted, was similarly keenly contested by candidates nationwide.
“PDP is the only democratic party in Nigeria that nobody or group can pocket,” Olawepo-Hashim said. “The party has always maintained an open space for competition, and that is why it has survived for over two decades in a very difficult political environment.”
According to him, this tradition of internal democracy has kept the PDP vibrant, making it a consistent platform for leaders who are committed to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and national unity.
Olawepo-Hashim contrasted this with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the party neither engages in internal debates nor holds regular meetings, thereby lacking the capacity for collective problem-solving.
“A party that discusses issues like PDP has a greater tendency to address Nigeria’s challenges than APC,” he said. “Despite PDP’s own challenges, its achievements remain unmatched. APC has dragged the country backwards, and its rigid, top-down style is cast in iron — a sure recipe for stagnation.”
He called on PDP members and Nigerians to safeguard the party’s democratic values, warning that replacing open competition with imposition would erode the PDP’s distinctiveness and undermine Nigeria’s democratic progress.
