‘Nigeria’s democracy under threat’: Turaki seeks Trump’s intervention after chaos at PDP secretariat

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Turaki, has called for the intervention of the United States President Donald Trump on the crisis rocking the party, saying Nigeria’s democracy “is under threat”.

Turaki made the call after the chaos at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

He also accused the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, of leading armed thugs with the alleged backing of police officers to disrupt party activities in Abuja.

The PDP chairman said: “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. Democracy is under threat.

“I am calling on all other developed nations, all advanced democracies: come and save Nigeria, come and save democracy.

“Because I cannot understand how a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be leading thugs to come and create mayhem here. I have said it: we are willing to lay down our lives to protect this office, to protect democracy and the mandate of our party.

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“Nigerians, you are watching what is happening. The international community, you can see the threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Come and save us! Come and save us.”

Crisis erupted at the PDP national secretariat on Tuesday as the Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and that of factional acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, clashed.

The factional acting chairman, Mohammed, is backed by Wike.

The situation degenerated when the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who is the PDP Governors Forum Chairman, and the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, arrived at the party secretariat.

Mohammed and Makinde had arrived at the party secretariat at about 10:45 am, but the main gates of the secretariat were locked, prompting them to access the premises of the party, leaving their motorcades behind.

However, the governors and their entourage were teargassed by one of the factions’ supporters the moment they tried to access the party National Executive Committee (NEC) hall where both factions intended to hold their meetings.

This was followed by several firing of teargas by security operatives to chase away party members and others, including journalists, and political thugs already within the secretariat.

The Star