Gbenga Hashim, a presidential candidate running on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, has resigned from the party due to what he called growing internal strife and fruitless attempts at reconciliation.
According to reports, Hashim resigned in a letter dated April 4, 2026, to the PDP Chairman of Usuma Ward in the Federal Capital Territory’s Bwari Area Council. The letter stated that the resignation will take effect immediately.
The former PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary said in the letter that the party had been plagued by a protracted crisis for more than a year, which had caused opposing groups to arise inside its structure.
He characterized the circumstances as a significant blow to the party’s cohesion and efficacy as an opposition platform.
He claimed that the PDP has been divided into two main factions as a result of “persistent and unending crises.”
Hashim revealed that he and other party members had tried multiple times to mend fences and bring the party back together.
He regretted, nevertheless, that the attempts at reconciliation were unable to end the conflict. He claimed that the party’s cohesiveness and power as a national political force have been compromised by the persistent divisions.
The former PDP leader claimed that the party’s internal strife seemed to be partially planned to reduce its chances in the run-up to the federal elections in 2027.
He claimed that the circumstances might make it impossible for the PDP to put forward serious candidates or turn it into a docile backer of the current administration.
He stated, “I cannot, in good conscience, be complicit in actions that undermine democratic values.”
Hashim went on to say that staying in such a political setting would be a betrayal of his personal beliefs.
The politician also voiced concern about Nigeria’s current socioeconomic circumstances, pointing to the nation’s economic suffering, insecurity, and fatalities.
He claimed that staying in a political system that seems to justify the existing circumstances would be at odds with his convictions.
Hashim called the PDP’s current situation “disappointing,” attributing its decline from what he described as a once-formidable political party to internal conflicts and selfish ambitions.
He declared that he will now collaborate with other patriotic Nigerians to help create a new political structure that prioritizes justice, security, and economic growth in order to stop the formation of a one-party state.
