The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a strongly worded condemnation of recent comments by the newly declared factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Tanimu Turaki, describing his call for foreign intervention in Nigeria as “reckless, unpatriotic, and a direct threat to national sovereignty.”
Turaki, who was pronounced National Chairman by a faction of the PDP barely three days ago, stirred controversy earlier on Tuesday while addressing journalists in Abuja on the turmoil rocking his party. During the briefing, he urged foreign governments and international powers to intervene in what he described as an attempt to halt “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and safeguard democratic governance. His remarks, circulated widely across media platforms, immediately drew criticism from various quarters, with the ruling APC accusing him of exploiting Nigeria’s internal political challenges to invite external interference.
In a formal statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party said Turaki’s comments betrayed desperation, confusion, and a glaring lack of leadership capacity. According to the statement, Nigerians naturally expected that the new factional chairman would use his first days in office to begin the arduous task of seeking reconciliation among the warring blocs within the PDP. Instead, the APC noted, Turaki resorted to what it called a “reckless, shameless, and dangerous” suggestion that foreign forces should be invited into Nigeria’s internal affairs.
The APC argued that Turaki’s posture was symptomatic of a party in the final stages of disintegration. For a political organisation that held power for 16 years, the ruling party said, the PDP should have drawn from its historical experience in managing internal conflict rather than resort to international agitation and alarmist rhetoric.
“Under the PDP’s 16 years of governance, even during its most turbulent internal crises and its ruthless suppression of opposition parties, no leader within the party ever contemplated, let alone advocated, a foreign invasion of Nigeria,” the statement read. “Turaki’s call is both an admission of utter incompetence to manage the PDP’s internal contradictions and a confirmation that the party has reached the end of its road.”
The APC added that it was confident the international community would ignore what it described as an irresponsible provocation intended to mask the PDP’s internal failures. According to Morka, no serious global actor would contemplate the suggestion of interfering in Nigeria’s political disputes—especially at the prompting of a factional opposition leader “struggling to control the fragments of his broken party.”
Political analysts have also weighed in on the development, describing the comments as poorly timed and dangerously misleading. With the PDP still battling internal divisions, including disagreements over leadership legitimacy, strategic direction, and the fallout from its 2023 electoral performance, the party’s public image has suffered increasingly severe blows. Turaki’s remarks are now seen as compounding an already fragile situation.
The APC’s statement highlighted what it termed a “pattern of desperation” among opposition figures seeking relevance ahead of upcoming electoral cycles. The ruling party accused the PDP of attempting to weaponize national security narratives for political gain, warning that such tactics could destabilize the country if not checked. It further alleged that the opposition was willing to go as far as inviting external actors to meddle in Nigeria’s affairs, all in an effort to manufacture political sympathy.
“Turaki’s call shows how far they are willing to go—even to the extent of actively seeking destructive intervention from foreign powers on Nigerian soil—to advance their sinister political agenda,” the statement asserted.
The APC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and dismiss what it called the “antics of a drowning opposition.” It reiterated its confidence in the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that the administration remains committed to strengthening national unity, democratic stability, and economic recovery. The ruling party also reaffirmed its belief that Nigeria’s challenges—whether political, economic, or security-related—can and will be resolved through homegrown solutions, not foreign interference.
Analysts note that the strong language deployed by the APC underscores growing political tension between the ruling party and the PDP, particularly as both parties prepare for crucial off-cycle elections and long-term strategizing ahead of the 2027 general polls. Turaki’s emergence as a factional chairman adds a fresh layer of complexity to the PDP’s ongoing crisis, with lingering disputes among its governors, national officers, and influential stakeholders.
Meanwhile, some civil society organisations have urged caution, saying that while Turaki’s remarks were inflammatory, they reflect the deepening insecurity and socio-political anxiety in parts of the country. They called for constructive dialogue rather than escalating political attacks, warning that public discourse must remain responsible to avoid heightening ethnic or religious tensions.
However, the APC insists that nothing—no matter the political context—can justify a call for foreign intervention in Nigeria’s internal affairs. According to the ruling party, Turaki’s comments amount to an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and a betrayal of the principles of democracy, which require political actors to resolve disagreements through lawful, domestic processes.
The statement concluded with a call on Nigerians to “stand firm in support of our great party and the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu as we continue the arduous task of building progress and prosperity in all areas of our national life.”
The political ripple effects of Turaki’s remarks are expected to dominate national debate in the days ahead, especially as the PDP continues to grapple with what observers describe as its most serious leadership crisis since its formation in 1998. Whether the factional chairman will retract, clarify, or defend his comments remains to be seen, but the APC’s reaction suggests that tensions between Nigeria’s two major parties are far from easing.
Signed:
Felix Morka, CON
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
