PDP faction, led by Turaki, meets UK High Commission over Nigeria's shrinking opposition space

The Kabiru Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarms about threats to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

They shared these concerns during a meeting with officials from the United Kingdom High Commission. The faction accused the federal government of weakening democratic institutions and suppressing opposition politics.

This meeting involved a UK delegation and the PDP’s interim leadership, led by former Minister of Special Duties Kabiru Turaki (SAN). They discussed Nigeria’s democracy, the role of the opposition, and the political outlook for the upcoming 2026 and 2027 elections.

According to a statement released on Thursday by the PDP Interim National Working Committee, through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the talks are part of the party’s ongoing engagement with the international community about developments in Nigeria’s political scene.

The UK team was led by Fortune Aldred, Senior Political Adviser at the British High Commission, and included Stephen Asek, Political Adviser (Cameroon). Other PDP members present were National Secretary Wonyengikuro Daniel, National Treasurer Isa Abubakar, National Organising Secretary Theophilus Shan, National Legal Adviser Shafi Bara’u, Principal Private Secretary to the Chairman Ibrahim Abdullahi, and Mr Ememobong.

PDP highlights shrinking democratic space

The opposition party said the discussions focused on what it called the "asphyxiation of the opposition." They also looked at the ongoing leadership crisis in the PDP, the political outlook for future elections, and issues surrounding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s potential candidacy in the 2027 presidential election.

While the statement did not reveal the party’s stance on Mr Jonathan’s possible return to politics, they noted it was a key topic.

Mr Turaki told the UK delegation that a strong opposition is crucial for Nigeria’s democracy. "The need to ensure the survival of multi-party democracy and the opposition remains critical to a thriving democratic system," he was quoted as saying.

He further accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government of trying to dominate the political landscape. He described this as a "state capture disposition" and claimed the government was working systematically to control every part of the country.

According to him, the federal government's actions have increased political tensions nationwide. "The political temperature of the country has risen to fever-pitch levels, traceable majorly to the actions and inactions of the APC-led federal government, who are relentlessly provocative in their desire to forcefully capture every part of our country," he said.

The PDP also tied their meeting with the British diplomats to recent political events. This includes President Bola Tinubu’s remark that "all is fair in politics," which the party claimed has led to the misuse of state institutions against opposition parties.

UK High Commission responds

Responding on behalf of the British delegation, Mr Aldred thanked the PDP faction for the meeting. He assured them that the issues raised would be communicated through the High Commission’s diplomatic channels.

He emphasized that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and its political matters should be decided by Nigerians. According to the statement, Mr Aldred said the High Commission’s role is to understand political developments in Nigeria and share their observations through the right diplomatic means.

The Kabiru Turaki-led PDP faction claims to be one of the rival groups in Nigeria’s main opposition party. They operate with an Interim National Working Committee under Mr Turaki, with Mr Ememobong acting as their spokesperson, amid an ongoing leadership dispute.

The other faction is led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and is supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who is a PDP member in the APC-led federal government. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognized the Mohammed-led faction and recently allowed it access to upload candidates for the 2027 general election. It is still unclear if the High Commission has met with this group.