A faction within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday staged a peaceful demonstration outside the United States Embassy in Abuja, calling on the international community to intervene and protect Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The protesters, grouping under banners reading “Fix PDP, fix Nigeria” and “Save our Democracy,” marched to the embassy’s Maitama district gate early in the afternoon. Their aim: to draw global attention to what they described as escalating intimidation of opposition voices and a drift towards a one-party system under the current administration.
In a coordinated move, demonstrators also submitted letters of protest to the US Embassy, the European Union mission, and the Federal Ministry of Justice. The letters warned of weakening democratic structures and said that the ruling party was using state institutions to suppress dissent.
This public appeal comes amid a deepening leadership crisis within the PDP. In recent days, factional suspensions have proliferated: One wing, led by National Chairman Umar Damagum, suspended National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and other officials, only for Anyanwu’s faction to counter-suspend Damagum and his loyalists.
One protester addressed journalists at the embassy gate: “We are calling on the United States, the European Union and all lovers of democracy to intervene before it’s too late. Nigeria must not slide into a one-party dictatorship.”
Security operatives were visibly stationed at the site, though no incidents were reported. Organisers described the action as a peaceful yet urgent appeal for foreign and domestic actors to support institutional integrity in Nigeria.
