The PDP cannot risk alienating any faction, as reconciliation remains a viable option, according to Gbenga Hashim.

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — Presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Hashim, has said reconciliation within the party is still possible despite the National Convention held in Abuja by a bloc aligned with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, warning that the party cannot afford to sideline any major group within its ranks.

With tensions still lingering after the convention, Hashim noted that the divisions are real, but not beyond repair. He cautioned that if the crisis persists, it could weaken the PDP’s ability to function as a credible opposition at a critical time.

The PDP founding member spoke on Monday while reacting to developments following the Abuja convention held on Sunday and Monday, and outlined pathways for resolving the party’s internal crisis.

“Nothing has changed to alter the necessity for reconciliation and unity,” he said.

Hashim urged leaders of the rival factions to return to dialogue, stressing the need to harmonise party structures in line with earlier agreements and prevent further fragmentation.

He pointed to ongoing legal proceedings at the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and the Supreme Court of Nigeria as legitimate avenues for resolving the dispute, noting that the courts remain a viable path to settlement.

According to him, a consent judgment remains possible if political compromises are reached among the key actors involved in the crisis.

Hashim also highlighted deeper structural issues within the party, including the existence of parallel National Working Committees and conflicting state structures arising from separate congresses.

He warned that excluding any major bloc could further complicate efforts to rebuild trust and restore unity within the party.

More broadly, he called for a return to the PDP’s founding ideals as an inclusive political platform, urging stakeholders to put the collective interest of the party above factional considerations.

The PDP has in recent times been weighed down by internal wrangling, raising concerns about its cohesion and future as a viable opposition platform.

Despite the challenges, Hashim expressed optimism that, with genuine engagement and political will, the party can still resolve its differences and regain stability.