Presidential aspirant and chieftain of the Accord Party, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has alleged that Nigeria is gradually sliding back into what he described as the “dark days” of the era of Sani Abacha, accusing powerful political forces of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a strongly-worded statement issued ahead of the Accord Party presidential primary scheduled for May 30, 2026, Hashim claimed that influential figures were deliberately working to cripple opposition platforms and prevent credible challengers from emerging against the ruling establishment.

“Nigeria is being dragged back to the Abacha years,” he declared.

Hashim accused a top chieftain within the Accord Party of allegedly orchestrating internal moves aimed at destabilising the party and frustrating its chances of presenting a presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

According to him, the situation mirrors the political atmosphere during the Abacha era when registered political parties allegedly operated in support of a single power structure.

“We are seeing a replay of history, when political parties became tools for a self-succession agenda,” he said.

The presidential hopeful also linked the alleged plot to powerful figures within the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that attempts to dominate the political space would eventually fail.

“This coordinated plot by top officials will fail, just as the Abacha agenda failed,” Hashim stated.

He further accused the political establishment of systematically weakening opposition parties through what he described as manipulative legal and political strategies.

According to him, the process involved the destabilisation of the Peoples Democratic Party, the enactment of a “self-serving and obnoxious” Electoral Act, and alleged refusal by some promoters of the law to comply with its provisions before aspects of it were challenged in court.

“They weakened the opposition, wrote the rules to favour themselves, and still refused to play by those rules,” he alleged.

Despite the reported internal crisis within the Accord Party, Hashim maintained that the party’s presidential primary would proceed as scheduled.

“The presidential primary of the Accord Party is scheduled for Saturday, May 30. We are prepared to participate, and by the Grace of God, it will hold,” he said.

He also vowed that pro-democracy forces would resist any attempt to undermine democratic values and political plurality in the country.

“We shall not be discouraged. We shall not be intimidated. We fought for democracy, and by the Grace of God, we will defend it,” Hashim declared.