Public demonstrations have been a longstanding feature of Nigeria’s democratic experience, with a rich history dating back to the Aba Women’s Riot of 1929 and the Abeokuta Women’s Revolt led by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti in 1947.
This tradition of protest has continued into modern times, with notable examples including demonstrations led by political leaders such as President Bola Tinubu, who has used public protests to speak out against perceived injustices.
This legacy of public demonstrations underscores their significance as a means of expressing dissent and advocating for change, lending legitimacy to the current nationwide protests against bad governance in Nigeria.
Tinubu Leads Protest Against 2013 Anambra Governorship Election
On November 16, 2013, Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won the Anambra State governorship election in Nigeria, defeating Tony Nwoye of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and 21 other candidates.
Obiano’s victory was contested by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which alleged electoral injustice against their candidate, Chris Ngige, who finished third. In response, APC leaders, led by President Bola Tinubu, staged a protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Abuja, calling for the cancellation of the election results.
The protest, held in November 2013, was a demonstration of the APC’s dissatisfaction with the electoral process and its outcome.
The protesters had a confrontation with security officers who had stationed themselves before the national headquarters of the commission.
Tinubu, Muhammadu Buhari, Bisi Akande accused the electoral commission of being compromised and called for an end to the rigging of elections in the country.
‘Salvation Rally’ In 2014
In November 2014, a massive protest rally dubbed the ‘Salvation Rally’ was held in Abuja, led by Muhammadu Buhari and other APC leaders including former National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, and former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
The rally, attended by thousands of party supporters, aimed to draw international attention to the APC’s claims that the PDP-led Federal Government was politicising the Boko Haram crisis and compromising national security by allegedly hijacking the Nigerian police and other security agencies for political gains.
The rally, according to the organisers, was a call to action against the escalating insecurity, killings, corruption, and police brutality Nigerians experienced barely 10 years ago.
They also denounced then-President Goodluck Jonathan-led government for their alleged gross incompetence and unprecedented display of impunity.
The protest, which began at Eagle Square in Abuja and proceeded to the Police headquarters, was attended by notable figures including former Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, then-APC’s deputy national chairman for the North-East Senator Shuaibu Lawal, Senators Ali Ndume, Shaba Lafiagi, and Gbenga Ashafa.
In 2016, Nyesom Wike, then Governor of Rivers and current Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, led a massive protest against alleged police brutality during the Rivers legislative re-run election.
Wike and his supporters peacefully marched from the Government House to the Police Command Headquarters, demanding justice for the killing of PDP members and calling for the transfer of two implicated policemen.
The protest highlighted the contentious election and the need for electoral reform. Addressing the police, Wike expressed the people’s frustration with the alleged killings by some policemen and security operatives, urging action.
“On behalf of the Rivers Government and good people of the state, we have to let the police know that enough is enough.
“We demand that Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Mr Steven Hasso and the Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Akin Fakorede be posted out of the state.
“We have come here peacefully to communicate this demand and urge that this request is communicated to Police headquarters in Abuja because I (Wike) have written repeatedly (to IGP).
“Please, I don’t want people to die anymore and definitely do not want corrupt senior police officers posted to Rivers State,” he said.
Wike criticized the police for failing to hold accountable the two officers implicated in alleged election malpractices, despite video evidence showing them and other security operatives attempting to seize results in the Rivers East Senatorial District.
He expressed concern over the blurring of lines between law enforcement and politics, stating it was ‘unfortunate and worrisome’ that police officers, who should remain neutral, were behaving like ‘politicians in uniform’.
