Former presidential aspirant, Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, citing irreconcilable internal divisions and failed peace efforts. His resignation, effective immediately, was communicated in a letter dated April 4, 2026, to the PDP Chairman of Usuma Ward in Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory.
Hashim lamented that the party has been consumed by “persistent and unending crises” for over a year, splitting it into two dominant factions. He emphasized the moral imperative behind his decision, saying, “I cannot, in good conscience, be complicit in actions that undermine democratic values.”
He warned that the internal strife could prevent the PDP from presenting credible candidates and reduce it to a passive supporter of the current administration. “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 legitimize or sustain these conditions. Nigeria Today is experiencing terrorist wars in four of our six regions,” he stated.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Hashim added, “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 expressed disappointment over the state of the party he once admired, saying, “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.”
Explaining his next steps, Hashim noted, “At this juncture, I believe it is necessary for me to step aside and pursue a new path. 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.”