A former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has described the outcome of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections as a clear signal of the party’s political resurgence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Olawepo-Hashim congratulated party members and supporters, praising what he called an “outstanding performance” despite internal leadership disputes and what he alleged were deliberate efforts to weaken the party’s structure in the FCT.
The PDP is a resurgent party. Despite leadership disputes at the national level and deliberate efforts to weaken our structure in the FCT, the people stood firmly by the party,” he said.
The PDP was officially declared winner in one Area Council. However, Olawepo-Hashim argued that the party should have secured victory in three additional councils, alleging that its mandate was compromised in those areas.
Even with the obvious irregularities, the strength of the PDP was undeniable,” he stated. “The PDP is not declining. The PDP is rebuilding. And this is only the beginning.”
Beyond the chairmanship race, the party also won several councillorship seats across the FCT — a development the PDP chieftain said underscored sustained grassroots loyalty and organisational resilience.
He commended ward leaders, polling unit agents, and party supporters for what he described as their “unshakable loyalty to the party logo.”
You cannot suppress structure. You cannot intimidate conviction. The grassroots have spoken,” he declared.
Olawepo-Hashim maintained that the FCT results mark the start of a broader revival for the opposition party, expressing optimism that a united and stabilised PDP would pose a formidable challenge in 2027.
This election marks the start of our resurgence. If we can perform this strongly under strain, imagine what a united and fully stabilised PDP will achieve in 2027,” he added.
The FCT Area Council elections are widely regarded as a political barometer ahead of national contests, given their strategic location in the nation’s capital and their emphasis on grassroots mobilisation.
The polls were conducted amid an ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP at the national level, with disputes over party structure and internal alignments fueling concerns about cohesion as the 2027 general elections approach.
