ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Some members of the People’s 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 state.
The protesters, carrying placards with various inscriptions, also submitted protest letters to the US Embassy, the European Union (EU) complex, and the Federal Ministry of Justice.
They appealed to the international community and relevant government institutions to help protect Nigeria’s democratic system and the independence of the judiciary, alleging that the ruling party was using intimidation and undue pressure against opposition members.
According to the protesters, Nigeria is gradually sliding toward a one-party system, which poses a grave threat to democratic governance and political pluralism in the country.
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Channels TV reports that the demonstration comes amid a deepening leadership crisis within the PDP, which has lasted for more than two years.
The party’s internal conflict escalated over the past weekend when the National Chairman, Umar Damagum, along with some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), announced the suspension of the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and several other key officers.
In a swift counter move, Anyanwu led another faction of the NWC to suspend Damagum, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and four other principal officers, further deepening the leadership tussle within the opposition party.
By Monday, the faction loyal to Anyanwu, led by acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, had resumed duties at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, while Damagum and his loyalists were noticeably absent.
The protesters maintained that only urgent intervention by the international community and domestic legal institutions could help restore stability and fairness within Nigeria’s political and judicial systems.