The United Kingdom High Commission has held talks with the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the state of Nigeria’s democracy, the role of the opposition and the country’s evolving political landscape ahead of future elections.

The meeting, held on Thursday, was led on behalf of the UK High Commission by Dr Fortune Aldred, Senior Political Adviser, alongside Stephen Asek, Political Adviser (Cameroon).

According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party’s delegation included the National Secretary, Dr Wonyengikuro Daniel; National Treasurer, Isa Abubakar; National Organising Secretary, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan; National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u; and the Chairman’s Principal Private Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi.

Ememobong said the discussions focused on the state of Nigeria’s democracy, the role of the opposition in sustaining democratic governance and broader political developments in the country.

According to the statement, issues raised during the engagement included what the party described as the shrinking political space for opposition parties, the prolonged leadership dispute within the PDP, the reported possibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan contesting the 2027 presidential election, and the country’s broader political outlook.

Addressing the delegation, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, reaffirmed what he described as the party’s commitment to preserving Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system, arguing that a vibrant opposition remains essential to democratic accountability and good governance.

Turaki also expressed concerns over what he alleged was the increasing use of state institutions against opposition parties by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

He claimed that the political climate had become increasingly tense due to what he described as efforts to consolidate political control across the country.

“The political temperature of the country has risen to fever-pitch levels, traceable majorly to the actions and inactions of the APC-led Federal Government, which is relentlessly provocative in its desire to capture every part of our country,” Turaki said.

Responding on behalf of the UK delegation, Dr Fortune Aldred thanked the PDP leadership for the engagement and said the Commission valued opportunities to understand political developments across Nigeria.

He noted that while Nigeria remains a sovereign nation and its political affairs are matters for Nigerians, the High Commission has a responsibility to observe developments and report its assessments through established diplomatic channels.

According to the PDP, the meeting forms part of its ongoing engagement with members of the international community following recent political developments, including comments attributed to President Bola Tinubu on political competition and what the party alleges is the use of state institutions against opposition parties.

The Federal Government and the APC have consistently rejected allegations of suppressing opposition voices, maintaining that democratic institutions in the country remain independent and that all political actors are free to operate within the provisions of the law.