A former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said pro-democracy advocates in Nigeria will resist any move to impose a one-party system in the country.
Olawepo-Hashim stated this after a strategic meeting with human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, as part of ongoing consultations on the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, he said the engagement was aimed at strengthening efforts to preserve the country’s multi-party democratic structure.
“We are committed to sustaining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and will resist any attempt to impose a one-party system,” he said.
The former presidential candidate described Falana as a long-time associate, noting that their relationship spans over four decades of activism and advocacy for justice and civil liberties.
He recalled their joint involvement in anti-apartheid campaigns, including a protest held on January 7, 1988, during the visit of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, where several activists were arrested.
Olawepo-Hashim also paid tribute to some of his colleagues involved in the struggle who have since passed on, while highlighting his past legal battles against military rule.
He cited a 1988 suit challenging the Structural Adjustment Programme under the regime of former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, in which Falana represented him.
He further noted his detention in 1989 during a constitutional case against the Attorney General of the Federation, handled by a legal team led by the late Alao Aka-Bashorun.
According to him, Falana also played a role in his emergence as National Administrative Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, where he worked with the late Beko Ransome-Kuti.
Olawepo-Hashim stressed that their continued collaboration is focused on protecting democratic values, civil rights, and political plurality in Nigeria.
He added that consultations with other stakeholders would continue in a bid to safeguard the country’s democratic system.
Nigeria has operated a multi-party democracy since 1999, following years of military rule, but recent political developments, including defections and weakening opposition structures, have sparked concerns about the possibility of a dominant-party system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Observers have warned that a shrinking opposition space could pose risks to democratic accountability and electoral competitiveness.
