The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused opposition politicians of sponsoring the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanu protests across major cities in Nigeria, describing them as politically motivated attempts to incite chaos and destabilise the nation.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the party’s spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, said the demonstrations were a “dangerous display of reckless politics” and had “nothing to do with justice but everything to do with political frustration.”
“This so-called protest is not about justice; it is about political frustration,” Oladejo declared. “It represents the height of bitter, destructive politics, an attempt by those who have been roundly rejected by Nigerians at the polls to exploit national issues in search of cheap relevance.”
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Oladejo likened the agitation to a Biblical act of deception, alleging that certain “desperate opposition figures” were hiding behind activist fronts to manipulate public sentiment.
“Their involvement reveals what can only be described as a classic case of the Biblical hand of Jacob but the voice of Esau — deceitful manipulation hiding behind the façade of activism,” he said. “But let them be reminded: they will not gain in the streets what they have disgracefully lost at the polls.”
Protests ‘Insensitive’ to Southeast Victims
The Lagos APC spokesman condemned the protests as insensitive to the ongoing suffering in the South-East, a region he said had been ravaged by years of insecurity, enforced sit-at-home orders, and violent agitations linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“The insensitivity of the organisers and their sponsors is shocking,” Oladejo said. “At a time when the South-East is still bleeding from years of mindless bloodshed, kidnappings, and enforced sit-at-home orders, these individuals have chosen to mock the memories of the victims. They ignore the tears of widows, the pains of orphans, and the devastation of communities ruined by senseless violence.”
He accused the protesters of “fanning the embers of division” instead of helping rebuild communities affected by insecurity, insisting that their actions further undermine regional peace efforts.
“For years, ordinary citizens in the South-East have lived in fear, traders afraid to open their shops, transporters grounded by threats, children deprived of education, and families shattered by insecurity,” Oladejo lamented. “Yet, instead of standing with their people to heal these wounds, these political opportunists have returned to profit from instability.”
‘No One Is Above the Law’
The Lagos APC reiterated that Nnamdi Kanu’s case remains a judicial matter before a competent court and warned against attempts to influence the legal process through street protests or public pressure.
“No one is above the law,” the statement read. “Nigeria’s judiciary is competent, independent, and capable of delivering justice without recourse to mob pressure or street intimidation.”
Oladejo also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying it is fostering national unity, restoring investor confidence, and promoting inclusivity across regions.
“The administration has shown remarkable inclusivity, with the South-East occupying key national positions and benefiting from renewed infrastructural development,” he said. “True progress will come not from chaos, but from cooperation and peace.”
APC Urges Security Vigilance
The Lagos APC urged security agencies to remain alert and ensure that protests do not spiral into violence. It also called on leaders in the South-East to caution their followers and reject divisive politics.
“There must indeed be a limit to bitter politics,” Oladejo stated. “Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we must not allow political desperation to tear it apart.”
The #FreeNnamdiKanu campaign has gained renewed traction in recent weeks following calls from civil society groups and pro-Biafra supporters for the release of the IPOB leader, who has been in detention since 2021 on charges bordering on treasonable felony.
The protests, held in major cities including Lagos, Enugu, and Abuja, have prompted heightened security alerts and warnings from law enforcement agencies, including the Nigerian Correctional Service.
While Kanu’s supporters insist his prolonged detention violates his fundamental rights, the federal government maintains that his case is sub judice and must follow due judicial process.