Former presidential candidate and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), likening it to a cult rather than a democratic political organization.
Speaking on AIT Democracy Today and during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja over the weekend, Hashim claimed the APC operates under authoritarian control, with little room for dissent or democratic engagement.
“In the APC, one or two individuals issue directives, and everyone else is expected to follow without question like zombies. That’s not how a political party functions. That’s a cult,” he said.
Hashim accused the APC of overseeing a period of deep economic regression and growing insecurity across Nigeria.
“They came to power promising change — and they delivered it by dragging Nigeria’s GDP from over $570 billion in 2014 to under $300 billion in 2025,” he stated. “GDP per capita fell from more than $3,000 to below $1,000. Meanwhile, insecurity that was once concentrated in the North East has now spread across the North West, North Central, and the South East.”
In contrast, Hashim portrayed the PDP as Nigeria’s only truly democratic party, emphasizing that internal debates and diverse opinions remain central to its decision-making process.
He urged Nigerians to critically evaluate the direction of the country and consider alternatives as the 2027 general elections approach.
