The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated dramatically today, with party leaders declaring the violent disruption of their inaugural National Working Committee (NWC) meeting as evidence of a plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to dismantle the opposition. The disruption at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja involved security operatives firing tear gas, allegedly to aid the entry of a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who has been widely accused of working for the ruling party’s interests.
The chairman of the convening NWC faction stated they had gathered for their “inaugural meeting of the brand new NWC after the convention in Ibadan,” only to find the premises “barricaded by the police.” He claimed the chaos was instigated by “some impostors who have been expelled by the convention,” a situation that worsened significantly with the arrival of Minister Wike.
A visibly distressed leader, identified as a serving governor, recounted the shock of the violent dispersal. “We have been tear-gassed as governors. We have been molested in spite of our immunity,” he asserted, condemning the active involvement of the FCT Minister in the disruption as a clear sign of state overreach.
The party leaders strongly advised the Presidency to “not keep people who are no longer useful in terms of managing the political space.” They stressed their right to exist as an opposition party, stating, “We should be allowed to survive. The international community should know what we are going through. We are going through hell. Our party is being destroyed by people from inside, carrying out an external mandate.”
Urgent Appeal to President Trump to ‘Save Democracy’
The disruption occurred despite earlier assurances from law enforcement. The chairman revealed he had prior contact with the FCT Commissioner of Police, who had “assured me upon his honor that they will do whatever is possible to protect us and guarantee us safe passage into our premises.” This assurance was visibly broken as the Minister and his loyalists were granted access while the newly elected NWC was violently targeted.
The resulting chaos prompted an urgent, direct appeal for foreign intervention, framing the crisis in stark terms against the ruling administration. “I want to call on President Trump. What is at stake is not just genocide against Nigerian Christians. He should come and save democracy in Nigeria,” the party leader pleaded. “I’m calling on all other developed nations, all advanced democracies, come and save Nigeria. Come and save democracy.”
The leaders vowed to stand their ground, declaring, “We are willing to lay down our lives to protect our office, to protect our democracy, to protect our mandate. We are not going anywhere even if they will kill us.” The incident underscores a serious threat to internal party democracy and stability, which the PDP leaders attribute directly to the political motives of the current administration.
