Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the United States Embassy in Abuja.
The protesters called on the international community to help safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and prevent the country from drifting toward a one-party system.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the demonstrators submitted protest letters to the US Embassy, the European Union complex, and the Federal Ministry of Justice.
They alleged that the ruling party was intimidating opposition members and attempting to weaken democratic institutions, warning that such actions could undermine multiparty democracy in the country.
The protest comes amid a worsening internal crisis within the PDP, which has seen key officials suspend one another in a deepening leadership tussle.
Last weekend, the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, alongside some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), announced the suspension of National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and other officers.
In a swift reaction, a faction led by Anyanwu countered the move, suspending Damagum, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and four other executives.
On Monday, acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, backed by the Anyanwu faction, resumed at the PDP national secretariat, while Damagum and his loyalists stayed away.
The ongoing divisions and Thursday’s protest highlight growing concerns within the opposition about the state of Nigeria’s democracy and political balance.
