Tension gripped Awolowo Road in Lagos on Wednesday as scores of demonstrators under the banner of the #EndBadGovernance movement took to the streets in protest against what they described as “a democracy hijacked by hunger, suffering, and inequality” under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Protesters began gathering as early as 7:30 a.m., raising placards and chanting songs that conveyed widespread frustration with the current state of governance, exactly two years into President Tinubu’s leadership. Although the march had not officially begun by 8:53 a.m., a heavy security presence had already formed, with police and other security operatives closely monitoring the scene.
The protest, organized to coincide with Nigeria’s Democracy Day, was preceded by a series of tense interactions between organizers and the Lagos State Police Command. On Tuesday, the protest leaders accused the police of breaching a mutual agreement to meet for pre-protest dialogue and coordination.
According to Mr. Soweto, a key figure among the organizers, both his team and their legal representatives arrived at the state police headquarters in Ikeja at 11:00 a.m. for a scheduled meeting with Commissioner of Police, Olohunde Jimoh. However, they were informed the commissioner had gone to Oshodi to oversee security arrangements for President Tinubu’s motorcade. After waiting an hour, the organizers left, only agreeing with police deputies to continue discussions virtually via Zoom.
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The group was caught off guard later that evening when they received a fresh notice from the commissioner’s office, rescheduling the meeting to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, again, in person. Refusing to accept the last-minute change in plans, the organizers insisted that any further engagement with the police must follow the earlier agreement of a virtual meeting.
“We are still open to dialogue with the CP, but we insist the next meeting be online, as initially arranged,” Mr. Soweto declared. “It was the CP who failed to show up at the original meeting. Protesters have a constitutional right to assemble, and we expect the police to uphold that.”
Meanwhile, the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has publicly called on the Lagos State Police Command to ensure adequate security and uphold the constitutional rights of peaceful protesters. The NBA emphasized that public demonstrations are essential to any functioning democracy and must not be suppressed.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday morning, Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed ongoing conversations between the police and protest organizers. He assured Lagosians that the command was fully prepared to protect both Democracy Day celebrants and demonstrators alike.
“The command is committed to ensuring that everyone, whether protesting or celebrating, remains safe and law-abiding,” Hundeyin said, urging participants to maintain peace and avoid any actions that could escalate tensions.