By Deborah Nnamdi
Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the United States Embassy in Abuja, calling for international intervention to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and prevent the country from drifting toward a one-party system.
The protesters, who also submitted letters of appeal to the U.S. Embassy, the European Union complex, and the Federal Ministry of Justice, carried placards urging global partners to help protect Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the judiciary.
They accused the ruling party of intimidating opposition members and undermining democratic principles, alleging a growing trend toward a one-party state.
The demonstration comes amid deepening internal turmoil within the PDP, which has been embroiled in a leadership crisis for over two years. The crisis worsened over the weekend following a series of counter-suspensions among top party officials.
The party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, alongside some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), had announced the suspension of National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and other key officers.
In a swift reaction, Anyanwu led a rival faction of the NWC to suspend Damagum, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and four other principal officers, further deepening divisions within the party.
By Monday, Abdulrahman Mohammed, who was named acting National Chairman by the Anyanwu-led faction, had resumed duties at the PDP national secretariat, while Damagum and his loyalists in the NWC were absent.
The protest, according to participants, was aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to what they described as threats to multiparty democracy and the independence of the judiciary in Nigeria.
