A coalition of pro-democracy lawyers and civic society organisations on Tuesday raised the alarm over what they described as a coordinated assault on Nigeria’s multi-party democracy, accusing the Federal Government of using security agencies to subvert opposition politics.
Speaking 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), condemned what they called “a brazen, violent and unconstitutional siege” on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
According to the coalition, the occupation of the PDP headquarters on November 18 and again on November 20 was not an internal party dispute, but “an orchestrated and state-backed operation executed by political thugs and enforced by security operatives acting without lawful mandate.”
The groups alleged that the invasion, which prevented access by PDP governors, lawmakers and party officials, was directly coordinated by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, with the backing of the APC-led Federal Government.
They insisted the action amounted to a dangerous escalation of state interference in party politics.
The organisers warned that Nigeria’s democratic system faces existential threats, citing what they described as escalation of security abuses, shrinking political space, suppression of dissent, weaponisation of institutions and deliberate weakening of opposition structures.
The statement criticised the deployment of armed police to restrict access to a legally constituted party organ, describing the development as “state capture in motion.”
The coalition maintained that the decisions taken by the PDP National Working Committee at the Ibadan Convention “remain valid unless overturned by a court of competent jurisdiction.”
The groups argued that the actions allegedly sanctioned by the FCT Minister contravene constitutional guarantees, citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution – freedom of association, Sections 221–229 – protections for political parties, and ministerial oath of office obligations.
They warned that “Democracy collapses when the ruling party uses security forces to intimidate opponents.”
The coalition, therefore, issued seven major demands, including:
1. Immediate withdrawal of police from Wadata Plaza
2. Full reopening of the Secretariat
3. Investigation into the FCT Minister’s conduct
4. A parliamentary probe into security agency abuses
5. Protection for all political parties
6. Security neutrality
7. Public commitment to multiparty democracy
They also urged ECOWAS, the AU, the EU, the UN, the U.S., the UK, and France to closely monitor the situation and intervene diplomatically to prevent democratic backsliding.
The groups, however, appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop the alleged persecution of opposition parties, rein in political appointees acting with impunity and ensure respect for constitutional order.
The organisers also declared that the civil society must not fold its arms, stressing that national stability hinges on protecting democratic freedoms.
“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 stated.
They vowed to continue mobilising Nigerians, insisting, “We will not be silent. We will defend democracy. We will defend the rule of law.”
In another development, the National Chairman of the Society for Advancement of Democracy (SAD), Orji Nwafor-Orizu, Esq., has urged the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and his supporters to quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if they are no longer committed to its stability.
He advised them to either join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or establish a new political party.
Orizu said in an interview that the SAD believes that the conduct of some political actors is not in the interest of democratic consolidation, particularly the trend of governors defecting to the APC.
“Governors should only defect if their people want them to. We in the SAD are concerned about the electorate, not political parties,” he stated.
Commenting on the crisis within the PDP, Orizu stressed that the party’s national convention, which elected Turaki as National Chairman, remains the highest decision-making organ of the party, and its resolutions must be respected.
“Turaki is a highly respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria. I believe he must have considered the legal implications of the current situation before taking the decisions he has made as chairman,” he affirmed.
He encouraged Turaki to intensify reconciliation efforts with aggrieved members, while steering the party with truth, fairness, and justice.
