Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim Insists PDP Reconciliation Is Still Achievable Despite Wike-Backed Factional Convention In Abuja

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim asserts that PDP reconciliation is still achievable despite the Wike-backed factional convention, calling for unity to avoid marginalization.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 11:01 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The PUNCH

The Persistence Of The Reconciliation Mandate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to grapple with a leadership vacuum following a factional National Convention in Abuja, reportedly orchestrated by a camp loyal to Nyesom Wike. However, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a prominent PDP chieftain and presidential aspirant, maintains that the necessity for unity remains unchanged. In a statement released on Monday, March 30, 2026, he argued that the recent escalations have not diminished the urgent need for a cohesive front. "Nothing has changed to alter the necessity for reconciliation and unity," Olawepo-Hashim noted, framing the current divide as a hurdle that must be cleared for the party to function as a credible opposition.

Warning Against Marginalization And Factionalism

A central concern raised by Olawepo-Hashim is the potential for the party to fracture permanently if certain blocs are marginalized. He warned that the PDP cannot afford to sideline any significant segment of its structure, as continued division only serves to erode public confidence and undermine collective strength. The existence of parallel National Working Committees and conflicting state structures across Nigeria was identified as a primary driver of the current instability. To address this, he called on factional leaders to resume dialogue and honor previous agreements intended to harmonize the party's organs.

Leveraging The Judiciary For Political Compromise

While the crisis has moved into the legal arena, with cases currently at the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, Olawepo-Hashim believes the law offers a path back to stability. He suggested that these judicial processes provide lawful channels where a "consent judgment" could be reached. Such a resolution would require significant political compromises from all sides but would ultimately preserve the party’s legal standing. By resolving disputes over separate congresses through the courts, the party could potentially establish a single, recognized leadership structure before the next major election cycle.