The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defended its national chairman, Kabiru Turaki, after he controversially called on U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene in Nigeria’s political situation, following a violent confrontation at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, the newly elected PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, condemned the police for firing tear gas directly at party officials and journalists during the attempted inaugural National Working Committee meeting.
“It was anticipated, I mean, because when light and darkness meet—when right and wrong meet—you prepare,” Ememobong said. “We went to the Commissioner of Police. We didn’t just send a letter. He assured us of police cover.”
Members of the newly elected executives had traveled from Ibadan and other parts of the country for the meeting. Ememobong justified Turaki’s call for foreign intervention, arguing that international actors historically shaped Nigeria’s democracy.
“Democracy was evangelised to us. When you look at the third-wave democratisation theory, Nigeria falls squarely into it. America, the United Kingdom, the European Union they all played critical roles. They preached that democracy would protect human rights, entrench norms, and strengthen the economy. Those were the promises,” he said.
On why the party pushed ahead despite expecting confrontation, Ememobong said, “If a thief gives you notice that he is coming to your house, do you abandon your home and family? You alert the police and stand your ground.”
He accused police officers of targeting elderly party members, some suffering from asthma, hypertension, and other ailments.
“People were injured. The canisters were shot directly at them. When it gets to the point where it looks as though all the ruling party wants is blood to water democracy, then what the chairman is saying is simple: if it requires our blood, so be it. Because it appears the president does not understand until blood falls,” Ememobong said.
The PDP official warned that Nigeria was gradually sliding toward “electoral authoritarianism” ahead of the 2027 general elections, while insisting that the incident unfolded close to the seat of power, making it unlikely President Bola Tinubu was uninformed.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned Turaki’s call as reckless and unpatriotic.
