A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has formally resigned from the party, citing prolonged internal crises and failed reconciliation efforts.

In a letter dated April 4, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the PDP, Usuma Ward, Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Hashim said his resignation takes immediate effect.

He noted that the party “has been embroiled in persistent and unending crises for over a year,” resulting in its factionalisation into two groups.

Part of the letter read: “You are also witness to the numerous reconciliation efforts I undertook, alongside other well-meaning leaders, to bridge these divisions and restore unity within the party. Regrettably, these efforts did not yield the desired results.”

Hashim, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, stated that it had become “increasingly evident” that the crisis had weakened the party’s position as a viable opposition.

“It has become increasingly evident that the crisis was, in part, orchestrated to weaken the PDP as a viable opposition, potentially preventing it from fielding credible candidates in the 2027 elections or, at worst, reducing it to a position of tacit support for the incumbent administration,” he said.

He added that he could no longer remain in the party without compromising his principles.

“I cannot, in good conscience, be complicit in actions that undermine democratic values. To remain in a system that appears to endorse a leadership record I fundamentally disagree with would be a betrayal of my principles and commitment to the Nigerian people,” he said.

Highlighting the country’s current challenges, Hashim pointed to insecurity and economic hardship as key concerns.

“Today, Nigeria faces severe challenges — widespread insecurity across multiple regions, the tragic and continuous loss of innocent lives, and an economy in distress, with rising poverty among millions,” he said.

“Nigeria today is experiencing terrorist conflicts in several regions, and the loss of lives has become deeply concerning. The economy is under significant strain, and poverty has increased sharply.”

He further criticised what he described as declining standards in political leadership.

“Only wickedness, greed, and lack of integrity would keep any leader in a system that appears to endorse such outcomes or participate in any process perceived as endorsing a predetermined candidate,” he stated.

Hashim also expressed disappointment over the state of the PDP.

“It is disheartening that a great party, founded by some of Nigeria’s most committed democrats and patriots, has been brought to its knees by internal divisions and individuals whose primary distinction is that they benefited the most from public offices entrusted to them by the PDP,” he said.

He said his decision marks the beginning of a new political direction.

“At this juncture, I believe it is necessary for me to step aside and pursue a new path. I am compelled by the urgent political realities of our time to collaborate with other patriotic leaders and citizens committed to preventing the emergence of a one-party state and to building a new political order that guarantees security, justice, and economic prosperity for all Nigerians.
“The time has come to move forward,” he added.

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has convened an emergency security council meeting at the Government House in Katsina following a renewed wave of bandit attacks in parts of the state.

The meeting happened a day after bandits killed two civilians and a police officer during attacks along the Karadua–Musawa Road in Matazu Local Government Area.

The incident occurred on Sunday when bandits reportedly blocked the road and opened fire on a moving Volkswagen Golf vehicle, killing two occupants on the spot.

In a statement on Monday, the Katsina State Police Command, through its spokesman, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, said a joint team comprising police personnel, military operatives, members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, and local vigilantes was mobilised to the scene following a distress call.

Sadiq-Aliyu said the bandits later regrouped and attempted to attack the Musawa Police Division but were repelled after a fierce gun battle, preventing them from overrunning the facility. He added that one police officer was killed during the encounter while defending the station.

Although details of the Monday security meeting were not disclosed, sources indicated that discussions centred on tackling the resurgence of banditry in several communities.

The closed-door meeting, which lasted several hours, brought together heads of security agencies, chairmen of affected local government areas, and key stakeholders to review the deteriorating security situation and strategise immediate responses.

Representatives of the Nigerian Army, Defence Headquarters, and the Department of State Services attended, alongside officials of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Also present were representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other top government officials also participated in the deliberations.

A solemn funeral service for victims of the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, turned tense as fresh revelations emerged and protesters gathered outside the church.

The Chief of Staff, Government House Jos, Jeremiah Satmak, who represented the Plateau State Government, commiserated with families of the victims and assured them that efforts are underway to uncover the motive behind the killings and bring perpetrators to justice.

Satmak disclosed that toll from the attack has risen from 28 to 33, following the death of some victims in the hospital.

“Government is working tirelessly to unravel the motive behind these killings and bring an end to the violence on the Plateau. This attack was meant to break our unity, but it will not succeed,” he said.

He also called on residents to remain vigilant and prayerful, assuring that the state government is committed to restoring lasting peace.

The Chief of Staff further announced that the three youths earlier arrested in connection with the incident have been released.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State chapter, Rev. Gomwalk Dunkan, stressed that peace can only be achieved through justice.

“There can be no peace without justice. Government must ensure that justice is served for lasting peace to return,” he said.

He, however, expressed hope that the crisis will soon come to an end, noting that the perpetrators will not go unpunished.

Meanwhile, outside the church auditorium, tensions flared as women and youths staged a protest, demanding the release of the three youths earlier arrested by the military.

The protesters alleged that the youths were unjustly picked up with sticks, while the actual perpetrators of the attack remain at large. Carrying placards with various inscriptions, they vowed not to allow the burial to proceed until the youths were freed.

The development heightened tension in the area, underscoring growing frustration among residents over recurring attacks and delayed justice.

A deadly shooting incident was reported last Sunday when unidentified gunmen, reportedly riding on a motorcycle, shot and killed some youths in the Anguwan Rukuba, in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

The latest attack comes weeks after no fewer than 20 security operatives and vigilantes were reportedly killed when heavily armed bandits ambushed a joint patrol team in Wanka and the surrounding communities of the Garga area in the Kanam Local Government Area of the state.