Turaki Defends Call For Foreign Intervention, Says Democracy Under Threat

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has accused Federal Government of undermining democratic processes in the country, following a violent confrontation at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Speaking on Arise TV’s Day Break on Tuesday, Turaki dismissed claims that the PDP was factionalised, insisting that the party was only dealing with internal issues similar to those experienced by other political parties since its defeat in the 2015 elections.

“It is wrong for anybody to say the PDP is factionalised. We’ve had challenges like every other party, and we have been working to put them behind us while learning important lessons,” he said.

Turaki explained that three members of the PDP’s 21-member National Working Committee (NWC) were sabotaging the party, saying they were warned in writing but continued their actions, which later led to their expulsion.

According to him, shortly after the party’s swearing-in ceremony in Ibadan, the leadership received information that the expelled members were planning to storm the secretariat ahead of the scheduled inauguration on Tuesday.

The chairman said he immediately informed the FCT Minister and the Commissioner of Police, who assured him that there would be no breach of security.

“Armed with that confidence, we invited our members. But on getting there, we saw that the expelled members had already taken over the building with armed thugs,” Turaki said.

He alleged that over 100 canisters of tear gas were fired at PDP officials as they attempted to access the premises.
“We were attacked, and we had to defend ourselves. We have a right to do so,” he added.

The PDP chairman said the incident forced the party to call on the international community for support, insisting that the actions of security operatives and the attackers were part of a wider effort to intimidate opposition parties.

“The APC-led Federal Government is trying to truncate democracy in Nigeria. Look at what is happening to LP, SDP, ADC, and now what they’re trying to do to the PDP,” Turaki said.

He noted that his appeal was not limited to the United States but extended to all advanced democracies, arguing that the global community must show genuine interest in protecting democratic institutions in Nigeria.

“You cannot force a one-party system on Nigeria. Everyone who witnessed what happened saw that we were the victims,” he said.