PDP group protests at US embassy, accuses APC of stifling opposition

APC and PDP logos

The PDP Like-Mind, a group in the Peoples Democratic Party, staged a protest at the United States embassy in Abuja on Thursday.

The protesters asked the international community to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and prevent a descent to a one-party state.

Brandishing placards with inscriptions: ‘judges must uphold the rule of law’, ‘fix our democracy’, and ‘fix PDP,” the protesters appealed to the international community and the ministry of justice to intervene in defence of democratic ideals and the independence of the judiciary.The group delivered petitions to the US embassy, the European Union, and the ministry of justice, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of intimidating opposition figures in the country.

PDP LEADERSHIP CRISIS

The crisis in the PDP recently took a new twist, with two factions laying claim to the chairmanship position.

On Saturday, the PDP NWC led by Umar Damagum, suspended Samuel Anyanwu, national secretary; Kamaldeen Ajibade, national legal adviser; Okechukwu Osuoha, deputy legal adviser; and Umaru Bature, national organising secretary, over alleged anti-parth activities.

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Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, who announced the suspension, said the decision followed an emergency meeting of the NWC in Abuja.

In a retaliatory move, Anyanwu’s faction, which has the backing of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT),  Damagum, Ologunagba, Taofeek Arapaja, the deputy national vice-chairman (south); Daniel Woyenguikoro, national financial secretary; Sulaiman Kadade, national youth leader; and Setonji Koshoedo, deputy national secretary.