A coalition of lawyers and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Nigeria Police Force to reopen the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat or face immediate legal action.
The coalition — comprising Lawyers for New Nigeria (LNN), Good Governance Initiative Coalition (GGIC) and the Arewa Lawyers Union (ALU) — delivered the ultimatum at a joint news conference Monday in Abuja.
Mr Hassan Saraki, the National Coordinator of LNN, who spoke on behalf of the groups, said the ultimatum was necessary to protect multi-party democracy in Nigeria.
Saraki described the continued closure of the PDP National Secretariat as illegal, stressing that the opposition must be allowed a level playing field, free from intimidation and must be permitted to flourish.
He demanded the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from the secretariat to allow its full restoration.
“We give the police 24 hours to reopen the PDP national secretariat; failure to do that will result in legal action.
“As lawyers, we cannot continue to see things going wrong and keep quiet. We all know what is going on in this country; we cannot allow the situation to further degenerate,” Saraki said.
He described the continued closure of Wadata Plaza as a “coordinated assault” on the soul of Nigeria’s democracy.
Saraki further stated that the events of November 18 and November 20 were not internal party disagreements but a siege allegedly carried out by political thugs and supported by security operatives acting without lawful authority.
“At the centre of this crisis is the brazen, violent and unconstitutional invasion of the PDP national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on November 18 and again on November 20.
“This was not an internal disagreement; it was a siege, a forceful occupation, led by political thugs, backed by security operatives acting without lawful authority.
“This is an unprecedented, unconstitutional and dangerous assault on Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.
Saraki argued that the actions of the police violated Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees Freedom of Association, as well as Sections 221–229, which provide protections for political parties.
“Let it be repeated that the decisions of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) at the Ibadan Convention remain valid unless set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction. No group has the authority to overturn them by force,” he said.
He expressed concern that Nigeria was currently under intense international scrutiny due to insecurity and allegations of genocide, noting that a recent controversial statement by President Donald Trump had further highlighted the nation’s challenges.
Saraki warned that suppressing the opposition would hasten Nigeria’s slide towards authoritarian rule.
Consequently, he demanded the immediate withdrawal of police officers from the PDP secretariat and called for a parliamentary inquiry into the alleged misuse of security agencies.
(NAN)
APC backs S’West govs’ call for state police
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared support for the renewed call by South-West governors for the creation of state police, urging President Bola Tinubu to use his office to fast-track its establishment.
The party said the proposal was timely and aligned with long-standing demands by stakeholders in the region for a more responsive and effective security framework.
The chapter expressed its support in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo.
Oladejo said the call by the governors reflected a deep understanding of the evolving security challenges confronting communities in the South-West and across the country.
According to him, the security challenges facing Nigeria required multi-layered policing solutions, noting that the time for the establishment of state police was not only ripe but overdue.
He added that the South-West had consistently championed reforms aimed at decentralising policing and strengthening community-based security structures.
Oladejo noted that regional initiatives such as the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, had demonstrated the benefits of localised response mechanisms to crime and emerging threats.
The statement added that the introduction of state police would enhance intelligence gathering, strengthen response capabilities and improve coordination between security agencies.
Oladejo maintained that a multi-layered policing architecture was becoming increasingly necessary as criminal activities continued to grow in sophistication.
According to him, the position of the South-West governors reinforces President Tinubu’s commitment to modernising Nigeria’s security system.
He said the party believed that state police, if professionally regulated and federally coordinated, would complement ongoing national security efforts.
Oladejo urged Nigerians to approach the conversation with objectivity and avoid politicising an issue he described as central to national stability.
He said fear-driven narratives would not help the country address its pressing security concerns.
The spokesman called on citizens to engage constructively on how the proposed policing structure could function effectively within Nigeria’s federal system.
Oladejo reiterated the party’s confidence in President Tinubu’s capacity to deliver far-reaching security reforms to protect lives and property.
He also expressed solidarity with the South-West governors for what he described as their continued commitment to the safety and welfare of residents in the region.
Oladejo said the unity demonstrated by the governors underscored the urgency of adopting modern strategies to confront insecurity.
He affirmed that Lagos APC would continue to support policies aimed at strengthening national resilience against crime.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that South-West governors, under the aegis of the South-West Governors’ Forum, on Monday at their meeting in Ibadan, renewed their call for the creation of state police to tackle the security challenges bedevilling the region and the country at large.
(NAN)