Plans for a nationwide protest against Nigeria’s new Tax Reform Laws scheduled for January 20, 2026, have been plunged into uncertainty amid explosive allegations of a ₦300 million bribery scandal within the organising group.
A splinter faction of the protest movement on Friday announced its withdrawal, accusing key figures among the organisers of collecting ₦300 million and scheming to turn the demonstration into a trigger for nationwide unrest.
The group further alleged that the protest had been hijacked by political interests, calling for its immediate cancellation and a full-scale investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement signed by the faction’s leader, Mustapha Abdulahi, security agencies were urged to swiftly arrest those behind the protest to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order.
Abdulahi said the bribery allegations had shattered trust among the organisers, stressing that the movement had lost its credibility as a genuine platform for civic engagement.
He also accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of sponsoring the protest to exploit public dissatisfaction with the tax reforms and foment instability across the country.
According to him, what began as a citizens-driven action had degenerated into a politically motivated scheme.
Abdulahi explained that his group initially aligned with the protest out of concern for Nigerians grappling with economic hardship following the implementation of the Tax Reform Laws on January 1, 2026.
However, he said they pulled out after discovering that the initiative had become “a profit-driven enterprise and a channel for political patronage.”
The faction renewed its call on security agencies and the EFCC to investigate all those allegedly involved and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted.
While announcing its withdrawal, the group appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and embrace responsible civic participation, noting that the nation’s economic recovery requires unity, maturity, and a strong sense of patriotism.
