Organizers of the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest, the Take-It-Back (TIB) movement, have announced plans for a nationwide demonstration on April 7, 2025, to protest the state of emergency in Rivers State and the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act by Nigerian authorities to target activists, journalists, and social media influencers.
Supporters have been urged to gather at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as part of what has been described as a “Nationwide Protest Against Bad Governance and Free Speech Suppression.”
In an interview with PUNCH on Monday, Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of TIB, said the group’s core demand is the “repeal of the Cybercrime Act.”
“The issue revolves around how the Cybercrime Act is being weaponized to suppress free speech. Journalists and activists, as you know, are often the primary targets of both the act and the broader crackdown on free speech. This also affects social media users, including individuals like SeaKing and others,” Sanyaolu stated.
The protest also seeks an end to the emergency rule in Rivers State, which organizers have described as “military rule imposed by the government of President Bola Tinubu.”
The movement is demanding the full reinstatement of all suspended government bodies, including the State House of Assembly and the Executive.
“Most importantly, we are demanding an end to bad governance. The policies implemented by Tinubu have caused considerable hardship,” Sanyaolu added.
He also emphasized that the protest will not be limited to Abuja, as flyers detailing additional protest locations will be shared soon.
The suspension of the governor and elected representatives in Rivers State has been widely criticized, with stakeholders calling for caution.
Meanwhile, Nigerians continue to struggle with rising living costs and soaring inflation, with protests against insecurity already taking place in Enugu and Ondo States.
With tensions rising, all eyes are now on April 7, as activists and citizens prepare to take to the streets in a fresh call for accountability and change.
