The All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu's administration have launched scathing criticism against the new factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, following his controversial appeal to former United States President Donald Trump for intervention in Nigeria's political affairs.
PDP Chairman's Controversial Appeal
During a press conference held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Turaki made a startling request for international assistance while addressing the ongoing crisis within his party. The senior advocate of Nigeria specifically called upon Donald Trump to help save democracy in Nigeria, citing what he described as actions undermining democratic principles and progress.
Turaki stated emphatically: "I want to call on President Trump; what is at stake is not just genocide against Nigerian Christians. He should come and save democracy in Nigeria. Democracy is under threat. I'm calling on all other developed nations: come and save Nigeria, come and save democracy."
This appeal came shortly after Trump had previously threatened military action in Nigeria if the federal government continued to permit the killing of Christians, with the former US president promising to go into Nigeria "guns-a-blazing" against Islamic terrorists.
APC's Strong Condemnation
Reacting to the viral video of Turaki's statement, Felix Morka, the national spokesperson for the APC, described the call as "reckless and unpatriotic." The ruling party expressed astonishment at the PDP chairman's actions, particularly given his recent appointment to the position just 72 hours earlier.
The APC released an official statement saying: "For a man declared National Chairman barely 72 hours ago by a faction of his deeply fractured party, Turaki looked and sounded desperate, at his wit's end, confused, incoherent, and grossly lacking in stamina and capacity to manage his party's crisis."
The ruling party further emphasized that it trusts the international community will dismiss what it termed the PDP's "disgraceful and unpatriotic call," branding the appeal as "a pitiful distraction from the failure of its internal democracy and embarrassing disintegration."
Presidency Accuses Treason
In a separate but equally strong response, Bayo Onanuga, one of the spokespersons for President Bola Tinubu, accused Turaki of committing "high treason." Onanuga took to his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle to share the video of Turaki seeking Trump's assistance, accompanied by a strongly worded message.
Onanuga wrote: "We shall never forget this video: the day a Nigerian politician committed high treason for calling for a foreign invasion of Nigeria, all because of intra-party dispute."
This accusation carries significant weight in Nigeria, where treason is punishable by death according to the country's Criminal and Penal Codes.
The APC also highlighted what it described as the PDP's desperation, stating: "The heightened desperation of the PDP and other opposition leaders is now clear for all to see. Turaki's call shows how far they are willing to go, even to the extent of actively seeking destructive intervention of foreign powers on Nigerian soil in order to serve their sinister political agenda."
The political confrontation occurs against the backdrop of intense internal crisis within the PDP, which recently saw supporters of both factions clashing at the party's Wadata Plaza secretariat in Abuja as both groups attempted to assert control over the party's leadership and direction.
