The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, has raised alarms over what he describes as a troubling slide toward authoritarianism in Nigeria. Speaking on recent political tensions, Gabam warned that incidents like those at Wadata Plaza are not isolated but part of a growing pattern of using state institutions to intimidate opposition voices.
“Eyewitness accounts suggest that state structures are being deployed to suppress political opponents,” he said. “This approach erodes public trust and threatens the stability of our democratic system. Security agencies should protect lives and property, not be turned into instruments of harassment.” Gabam also recalled past incidents where similar tactics were used to destabilize the SDP, cautioning against repeated cycles of political manipulation through abuse of constitutional processes.
The comments come amid escalating tensions following claims by Tanimu Turaki, a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, that Nigeria’s democracy is in peril. Turaki had called on foreign leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, to intervene, alleging a “genocide against Nigerian Christians” and accusing a serving minister of deploying armed operatives against party officials.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dismissed Turaki’s allegations as reckless and misleading. Speaking during a courtesy visit from the Board and Management of the newly established South-South Development Commission, Wike said, “Essentially, you are telling the world this government is committing genocide. When security agencies invite you to clarify, people will shout: ‘They want to kill him!’ This is a national security threat.” He stressed that no individual or political actor should invite foreign powers into Nigeria’s domestic affairs.
Meanwhile, the faction of the PDP led by Abdulrahman Muhammed, which has the backing of Minister Wike, recently attempted to gain recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission. The group sought to postpone the PDP state congress and governorship primary in Ekiti State, citing logistical constraints.
INEC, however, rejected the submission in a letter dated November 10, citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act and party regulations that require the national chairman and secretary to jointly sign such notices.
