A former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has advocated for political solutions in resolving the ongoing leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party.
He said with a political approach, the party’s lingering leadership crisis can be resolved within one week rather than prolonged legal battles.
Olawepo-Hashim made the assertion during a meeting with the PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as part of ongoing consultations aimed at achieving an out-of-court settlement of the internal dispute.
The meeting was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Olawepo-Hashim Media Office and made available to The PUNCH Online.
The former presidential hopeful said the continued resort to litigation posed a serious threat to the party’s survival and to the stability of Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system.
According to him, the PDP already has sufficient constitutional provisions and legitimate party structures to resolve the crisis without recourse to the courts.
“There are more than enough legitimate members of the National Executive Committee to convene a meeting and resolve this crisis within one week,” Olawepo-Hashim said.
He cited Sections 3(1) and 3(4) of the PDP Constitution, which empower two-thirds of NEC members to convene a meeting and take binding decisions on behalf of the party.
Olawepo-Hashim argued that the majority of NEC members were elected before the disputed Ibadan convention and therefore retain unquestionable constitutional legitimacy.
He further explained that although the tenure of some members of the National Working Committee expired on December 8, the pre-Ibadan NEC members remain constitutionally empowered to intervene.
According to him, such intervention would allow the party to take corrective action in the overall interest of unity, stability and electoral competitiveness.
“What is required now is courage and responsibility,” he said, calling on party leaders to act in the broader interest of the PDP and the country.
“NEC members must rise above factional interests and stand for posterity, for the party, and for the nation,” Olawepo-Hashim added.
He warned that continued internal paralysis could weaken the PDP’s capacity to function as a credible opposition and undermine democratic balance in the country.
“The PDP plays a critical role in Nigeria’s democracy. A weakened opposition is dangerous for democratic governance,” he said.
Responding, the PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Tanimu Turaki, thanked Olawepo-Hashim for the visit and his commitment to party unity and reconciliation.
Turaki assured that the party leadership under his watch remained open to reconciliation efforts, stressing that any resolution must not compromise the unity, stability and continued existence of the PDP.
The meeting, which was held at Turaki’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja, was also attended by the Deputy National Chairman and the party’s National Youth Leader.
Ends
Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Strategic Trade, Economic Partnership with China
From: Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening strategic, bilateral trade and economic partnership with China.
Reflecting positively on the progress recorded in relations between both countries throughout 2025, the Director-General and Global Liaison of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership, Mr. Joseph Tegbe said Nigeria’s relationship with China remains guided by the country’s long-standing foreign policy principles, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as adherence to established international norms.
He noted that in this context, the Federal Government has consistently upheld the One-China principle as the foundation of its diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
Looking ahead to 2026, he expressed the readiness of the country to consolidate and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in more practical and results-driven ways. He noted that emphasis will continue to be placed on cooperation that directly supports Nigeria’s development priorities, including economic diversification, infrastructure delivery, human capital development, technology transfer and long-term sustainability.
Commenting on the future of the partnership, Tegbe expressed confidence that cooperation between both countries would continue to mature.
According to him, sustained engagement and shared commitment would ensure the delivery of lasting outcomes that advance the common vision of a China–Nigeria community with a shared future.
