Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday held a peaceful demonstration at the United States Embassy in Abuja, urging international intervention to protect Nigeria’s democracy and prevent what they described as a slide toward a one-party system.
The demonstrators are delivering protest letters to several key institutions, including the U.S. Embassy, the European Union Delegation, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, all located in Abuja.
Videos circulating online show protesters carrying placards with messages such as “Fix PDP, fix Nigeria, save our democracy,” “Stop party opposition intimidation,” and “Please save our democracy from intimidation.”
The protesters alleged that opposition members have increasingly faced harassment from the ruling party, posing a threat to the country’s multi-party democratic structure.
The protest comes at a time of heightened internal conflict within the PDP, as rival factions of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) have suspended each other in a deepening leadership tussle.
Over the weekend, a group led by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum announced the suspension of National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and others. In response, the faction loyal to Anyanwu also suspended Damagum along with several officials.
This standoff has further divided the party’s leadership, with both camps claiming control amid ongoing turmoil in Nigeria’s main opposition party.
The demonstration, tagged “Save Our Democracy from Intimidation Protest,” was reportedly organised by the PDP Like-Mind Group to seek both local and international support in addressing the challenges confronting the opposition and the democratic system.
