Bayo Onanuga has strongly condemned Kabiru Turaki after the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman openly urged United States President Donald Trump to intervene in Nigeria’s political conflict.
Turaki made the appeal on Tuesday while addressing journalists in Abuja. He spoke shortly after he and his supporters gained access to the PDP headquarters following a tense standoff between rival factions.
His public call for foreign involvement quickly stirred outrage across the political space.
Onanuga calls the appeal “high treason”
Reacting to the statement, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, accused Turaki of crossing a dangerous line.
Onanuga said the request for a foreign leader to step into Nigeria’s internal party dispute was reckless and damaging. He stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must be protected from any form of foreign interference.
In a firm message shared online, Onanuga warned that Turaki’s action will remain a dark moment in Nigeria’s political history.
He wrote that the nation would “never forget” the video showing a political leader calling for outside intervention in a domestic crisis.
Onanuga insisted that inviting another country to meddle in Nigeria’s affairs, especially during a party disagreement, was unacceptable and amounted to “high treason.”
He added that leaders must act responsibly even during moments of political tension.
PDP crisis continues to deepen
The PDP has been battling internal struggles for months, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s leadership. The takeover of the party’s headquarters by security operatives and loyal groups has intensified the conflict.
Turaki’s appeal to foreign authorities has now added a new twist to the dispute, raising concerns about the direction of Nigeria’s political opposition and the stability of internal party democracy.