PDP members stage peaceful protest at U.S. Embassy over party crisis

Some members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the United States Embassy in Abuja, amid the deepening leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.

The PDP has been engulfed in internal conflict for more than two years, with recent weeks witnessing a wave of counter-suspensions among its top officials.

Over the weekend, the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and several other key officers.

In response, Anyanwu led a rival faction of the NWC to suspend Damagum, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and four other principal officers, further widening the rift within the party.

By Monday, the Anyanwu-led faction, with Abdulrahman Mohammed acting as national chairman, had resumed operations at the PDP national headquarters in Abuja, while Damagum and his loyalists were notably absent.

The protesting members at the U.S. Embassy called for foreign attention and mediation, urging the international community to intervene in what they described as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy if the PDP remains divided ahead of future elections.