Members of the Peoples Democratic Party staged a peaceful protest on Thursday at the United States Embassy in Abuja to seek international support in protecting Nigeria’s democracy.
The protesters, under the banner of the PDP Like-Mind Group, said they were calling attention to what they described as growing intimidation of opposition members and a move toward a one-party state.
They carried placards with messages such as “Fix PDP, fix Nigeria, save our democracy” and “Stop party opposition intimidation.”
The group also submitted protest letters to the US Embassy, the European Union complex, the Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters.
One of the organisers said the protest was aimed at drawing global attention to what they see as political pressure on opposition voices. “We want the international community to help protect democracy in Nigeria and stop the intimidation of opposition parties,” one protester said.
The demonstration comes amid deepening internal divisions within the PDP. The party’s leadership crisis worsened last week after two factions of the National Working Committee suspended each other.
The camp led by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum announced the suspension of National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and some key members, while the rival group loyal to Anyanwu retaliated by suspending Damagum and other top officials.
Both factions have continued to claim legitimacy, further unsettling Nigeria’s main opposition party.
The protesters urged the United States, European Union, and other international partners to help ensure that democracy in Nigeria remains free from political intimidation and undue interference.
