Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, has told party leaders that the PDP leadership crisis could be settled within a week if those involved choose political solutions rather than extended litigation.
PDP leadership crisis can be resolved under party rules
Olawepo-Hashim made the assertion during a meeting with the PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Tanimu Turaki, at Turaki’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja. The session formed part of ongoing consultations aimed at securing an out-of-court settlement of the dispute that has paralysed the party’s national structures.
In a statement released by the Olawepo-Hashim Media Office and published by The PUNCH Online, the former presidential hopeful said the party already possessed sufficient constitutional provisions and legitimate structures to deal with the impasse. He cited Sections 3(1) and 3(4) of the PDP constitution, which empower two-thirds of National Executive Committee members to convene meetings and make binding decisions on behalf of the party.
Olawepo-Hashim argued that the bulk of NEC members were elected before the contested Ibadan convention and therefore retain unquestionable constitutional legitimacy. He acknowledged that the tenure of some National Working Committee members expired on December 8, but maintained that the pre-Ibadan NEC membership remains empowered to intervene where necessary to preserve unity and functionality.
“There are more than enough legitimate members of the National Executive Committee to convene a meeting and resolve this crisis within one week,” he said. He warned that continued recourse to the courts would threaten both the party’s survival and the stability of Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system.
Olawepo-Hashim said swift internal action would allow the PDP to take corrective steps in the overall interest of unity, stability and electoral competitiveness. He appealed to NEC members to put party and national interests above factional aims, calling for courage and a sense of responsibility from all leaders.
The former candidate stressed the broader democratic stakes. “The PDP plays a critical role in Nigeria’s democracy. A weakened opposition is dangerous for democratic governance,” he said, warning that prolonged internal paralysis could undermine the party’s capacity to act as a credible counterbalance to the ruling party.
Responding to the proposal, PDP National Chairman Ambassador Tanimu Turaki thanked Olawepo-Hashim for his visit and for committing time to reconciliation. Turaki said the party leadership under his watch remained open to efforts that would heal divisions, but stressed that any resolution must not compromise the unity, stability and continued existence of the PDP.
The meeting was also attended by the Deputy National Chairman and the party’s National Youth Leader. Both figures remain important to any pathway that seeks broad acceptance across the party’s structures.
As discussions continue, the key question is whether NEC members and other stakeholders will move quickly to apply internal mechanisms and avoid protracted court battles. For now, party figures who favour a political solution have presented a timetable and legal basis that, if accepted, could restore normal operations within days rather than months.
Key Takeaways:
- Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim says the PDP leadership crisis can be resolved within one week using party mechanisms, not courts, emphasizing the PDP leadership crisis must be handled politically.
- He cited Sections 3(1) and 3(4) of the PDP constitution and argued that a two-thirds National Executive Committee can convene binding meetings.
- Olawepo-Hashim warned that prolonged litigation risks weakening the PDP and Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
- PDP National Chairman Tanimu Turaki welcomed reconciliation efforts and pledged to protect party unity and stability.
