Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said pro-democracy forces across Nigeria will resist any attempt to impose a one-party system on the country.
He spoke after a strategic meeting with Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, held as part of ongoing consultations on the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
According to him, stakeholders at the meeting agreed on the need to preserve the nation’s multi-party structure and safeguard political pluralism. “We resolved to sustain the multi-party structure of Nigeria’s democracy and resist one-party rule,” he said.
Olawepo-Hashim also reflected on his decades-long alliance with Falana, rooted in shared activism and pro-democracy struggles.
He recalled their involvement in the anti-apartheid movement, including a 1988 protest during the visit of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, which led to the arrest of several activists.
He paid tribute to colleagues involved in the protest, noting that only two are still alive, while others have passed on.
The former candidate further highlighted his legal battles during military rule, including a suit against policies under the regime of Ibrahim Babangida, where Falana served as his lawyer, as well as his detention in 1989 during a constitutional case led by Alao Aka-Bashorun.
He added that Falana was instrumental in his role at the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights under Beko Ransome-Kuti.
Olawepo-Hashim reaffirmed that their alliance remains focused on defending democratic values and civil liberties, warning that consultations will continue to counter any threat to Nigeria’s multi-party system.
Nigeria has operated a multi-party democracy since 1999, but recent defections to the ruling party and challenges within opposition groups have raised concerns about a possible drift toward a one-party state ahead of the 2027 elections.
