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.

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),
suspended 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.

Anyanwu’s faction subsequently appointed Abdulrahman
Mohammed as the acting national chairman, claiming that the decision was
necessary to restore order and legitimacy within the party’s national
leadership.

On Monday, Mohammed declared himself the PDP acting national
chairman at the party’s secretariat.  

Last week, an Abuja high court ordered the PDP to suspend
its planned national convention over breach of due process.

However, a high court in Ibadan, the Oyo share capital, has
ruled in favour of the party’s planned convention slated for November 15 and
16, 2025.