Democracy Day Tension: Protesters Mobilise As Tinubu Addresses National Assembly
A potential face-off between security forces and demonstrators looms today, June 12, as the Take It Back (TIB) Movement proceeds with plans to stage protests at the National Assembly in Abuja and 19 other locations nationwide.
President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to address a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives as part of Democracy Day commemorations. This address replaces the previously announced national broadcast.
According to Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the President’s speech will be delivered directly from the National Assembly due to his presence at the joint session.
Security has been heightened across the country in anticipation of the rallies. The protest, initially planned for Eagle Square, has now been redirected to the National Assembly and other public venues. The organisers, led by TIB National Coordinator Juwon Sanyaolu, said the aim is to protest against what they describe as “two years of misrule, hardship, and insecurity” under President Tinubu’s administration.
Sanyaolu maintained that the venue change does not affect the movement’s objectives. “We are urging Nigerians to assemble at the National Assembly and other locations to demand an end to economic hardship, insecurity, and lack of accountability,” he said. He encouraged citizens not to fear intimidation, stating that civil protest is a constitutional right.
Despite reports of police harassment of protest organisers in Lagos, Bauchi, Gombe, Cross River, and Edo states, the protests will go ahead. Sanyaolu warned security operatives against infringing on citizens' rights.
In Abuja, mobilisation is set for 8:00 a.m. at Eagle Square. Other planned locations include Lagos (Badagry, Maryland, Agbara, Toll Gate), Akure (Cathedral Junction), Benin (Museum Ground), Ibadan (Mokola Roundabout), and Osogbo (Olaiya Junction), among others.
In Lagos, the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has formally requested police protection for the protest under the provisions of Section 84(4) of the Police Act (2024). The NBA affirmed the protest's legality and said it would monitor and report on the demonstration.
Speaking from Osogbo, Osun State TIB Coordinator Victor Lijofi urged the police to safeguard protesters and warned that the force would be held accountable for any violations.
In Bauchi, TIB Coordinator Nuhu Nazif disclosed that the police requested a meeting after being notified of the protest. However, he declined the offer, citing distrust due to past experiences.
Police authorities in Bauchi, Ogun, Yobe, Borno, Ondo, Edo, and other states confirmed deployments to ensure public safety. In Borno, for instance, over 1,500 officers were mobilised, and bomb squads were deployed as a precaution.
In Gombe, the NSCDC stated it had stationed 500 officers statewide. Similarly, Oyo State deployed NSCDC personnel across all 33 local governments, and Ondo police confirmed strategic positioning across key locations.
While acknowledging the protesters' right to assemble, police in several states stressed that any acts of violence or lawlessness would be met with strict consequences.
Meanwhile, Umar Ibrahim, Executive Director of War Against Injustice, said civil society groups in Kano would not participate in the rally, citing security concerns and the risk of political hijack. Referring to past unrest during similar protests, he stated, “Kano’s political climate is too volatile for such gatherings at this time.”