PDP Crisis: Gbenga Hashim resigns, says reconciliation failed

By Luminous Jannamike

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Gbenga Hashim, has resigned from the party with immediate effect, citing its deepening internal crisis and the collapse of efforts to hold it together.

His exit throws a harsh spotlight on the state of the PDP after months of infighting that have split the party into two rival camps, with attempts to fix the cracks failing and raising fresh doubts about its unity and readiness ahead of the 2027 elections.

Hashim, a founding convener of the PDP in 1998 and its first elected Deputy National Publicity Secretary, announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the party chairman in Usuma Ward, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

“The party has been embroiled in persistent and unending crises for over a year, leading to its complete factionalisation into two dominant groups.

“You are also witness to the numerous reconciliation efforts I undertook, alongside other well-meaning leaders, to bridge these divisions and restore unity within the party. Regrettably, these efforts did not yield the desired results,” he added.

Beyond the internal crisis, he suggested the turmoil may not be accidental, but part of a broader design.

“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 the 2027 election or, at worst, reducing it to a position of tacit support for the incumbent administration.

“I cannot, in good conscience, be complicit in actions that undermine democratic values. 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.

He tied his decision to the wider situation in the country, arguing that the party’s troubles cannot be separated from the realities Nigerians are facing.

“Today, Nigeria faces severe challenges; widespread insecurity across multiple regions, the tragic and continuous loss of innocent lives, and an economy in distress, with rising poverty among millions.

“It would be inconsistent with my convictions to remain part of any arrangement that appears to legitimise or sustain these conditions. Nigeria today is experiencing terrorist wars in four of our six regions.

“Massacres of innocent people have become a daily occurrence. Over eighteen thousand people have been killed in terrorist violence in the three years of the current administration.

“The economy has crumbled, and crippling poverty has soared. Only wickedness, greed and lack of integrity would keep any leader in a system that appears to endorse such outcomes or participate in any charade to coronate a pre-determined candidate,” he added.

Reflecting on the party’s trajectory, Hashim said it had drifted far from its founding ideals.

“It is indeed disheartening that a great party, founded by some of Nigeria’s most committed democrats and patriots has been brought to its knees by internal divisions and individuals whose primary distinction is that they benefited the most from the public offices entrusted to them by the PDP.

“At this juncture, I believe it is necessary for me to step aside and pursue a new path,” he added.

He signalled that his next move will be political, but outside the PDP.

“I am compelled by the urgent political realities of our time to collaborate with other patriotic leaders and citizens who are 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. The time has come to move forward,” he said.

He thanked the ward chairman, members of the executive committee and other stakeholders for their support and cooperation.