Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim, has reaffirmed the commitment of pro-democracy advocates to resist any attempt to impose a one-party system in Nigeria, following a high-level meeting with Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana.
Hashim said the meeting forms part of a broader consultation with key stakeholders aimed at protecting Nigeria’s multi-party democratic structure.
“We are committed to sustaining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and will resist any move toward a one-party state,” he said.
Reflecting on his long-standing relationship with Falana, Hashim described the legal luminary as a trusted ally of over four decades, with shared roots in activism and the struggle for justice.
He recalled their joint involvement in anti-apartheid campaigns under the Nigeria–ANC Friendship and Cultural Association, highlighting a notable protest on January 7, 1988, during the visit of former UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. According to him, the demonstration saw student activists defy security restrictions at the airport, leading to multiple arrests.
Hashim paid tribute to fellow activists involved in the struggle, noting that several, including Olaitan Oyerinde, Chris Ayaeze, and Rotimi Ewebiyi, have since passed on.
Beyond activism, he recounted his legal battles during Nigeria’s military era, including a 1988 lawsuit challenging the Structural Adjustment Programme under the regime of Ibrahim Babangida, in which Falana served as his pro bono counsel.
He also referenced his detention in 1989 in a constitutional case against the Attorney General of the Federation, handled by a legal team led by Alao Aka-Bashorun.
Hashim further disclosed that Falana played a key role in his appointment as National Administrative Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, where he worked alongside the late Beko Ransome-Kuti.
He emphasised that their enduring partnership remains focused on defending democratic values, civil liberties, and political plurality in Nigeria.
The development reflects growing concern among pro-democracy groups over the direction of Nigeria’s political landscape, with Hashim reiterating his readiness to collaborate with like-minded stakeholders to safeguard democratic governance in the country.
