A coalition of pro-democracy lawyers and civil society organisations has condemned what it described as a coordinated assault on Nigeria’s multiparty democracy, accusing the Federal Government of deploying security agencies to undermine opposition politics.
At a World Press Conference in Abuja, the Lawyers for New Nigeria (LNN), in collaboration with the Good Governance Initiative Coalition (GGIC), Advocates for Better Nigeria (ABN) and the Advocates for Democratic Accountability Network (ADAN), denounced the “brazen, violent and unconstitutional siege” on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza.
The coalition said the invasions of the Secretariat on November 18 and 20 were not internal party skirmishes but “orchestrated, state-backed operations executed by political thugs and enforced by security operatives acting without lawful authority.”
They alleged that the blockade—which barred PDP governors, lawmakers and party officials from accessing the complex—was coordinated by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, with the backing of the APC-led Federal Government, calling it a dangerous escalation of state interference in party politics.
The groups warned that Nigeria’s democracy faces grave risks, citing shrinking civic space, weaponisation of state institutions, suppression of dissent, and deliberate weakening of opposition structures.
They faulted the deployment of armed police personnel to obstruct the activities of a legally constituted party organ, describing the development as “state capture in motion.”
The coalition insisted that decisions taken by the PDP National Working Committee at the Ibadan Convention remain valid until set aside by a competent court. They argued that the actions allegedly sanctioned by the FCT Minister violate constitutional provisions, including Section 40 (freedom of association), Sections 221–229 (protection of political parties), and the obligations of ministerial oath of office.
“Democracy collapses when the ruling party uses security forces to intimidate opponents,” the groups stated.
They outlined seven key demands:
1. Immediate withdrawal of police from Wadata Plaza
2. Full reopening of the Secretariat
3. Investigation into the conduct of the FCT Minister
4. A parliamentary probe into alleged security agency abuses
5. Protection for all political parties
6. Assurance of security neutrality
7. A public commitment to multiparty democracy
The coalition also urged ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations, the U.S., the UK and France to monitor the situation closely and intervene diplomatically to prevent democratic backsliding.
They further appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt the alleged persecution of opposition parties, rein in political appointees acting with impunity and uphold constitutional order.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us—not to political warlords, not to ministers driven by vengeance, not to a ruling party bent on silencing the opposition,” the coalition said, vowing to continue mobilising citizens. “We will not be silent. We will defend democracy. We will defend the rule of law.”
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SAD to Wike: Leave PDP If You’re No Longer Committed
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Society for Advancement of Democracy (SAD), Orji Nwafor-Orizu, Esq., has urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and his loyalists to leave the PDP if they are no longer committed to the party’s stability.
He said they should either join the ruling APC or form a new party, stressing that SAD’s concern is the welfare of the electorate, not the interests of political actors.
“Governors should only defect if their people want them to. We in the SAD are concerned about the electorate, not political parties,” he said.
On the PDP crisis, Orizu reiterated that the party’s national convention—which produced Turaki as National Chairman—remains its highest decision-making organ.
“Turaki is a highly respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria. I believe he must have considered the legal implications before taking the decisions he has made as chairman,” he said.
He encouraged Turaki to intensify reconciliation efforts and steer the party with fairness, justice and truth.