By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Conveners of the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest have declared protest against emergency rule in Rivers State and the alleged use of the Cybercrime Act by the police to “hunt activists, journalists and social media influencers.”
A flyer circulating on social media platform X, shared by one of last year’s protest organisers, the Take It Back Movement, tagged the April 7, 2025 action “Nationwide Protest Against Bad Governance and Free Speech Suppression,” asking supporters to converge at the National Assembly, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
In an interview with our correspondent on Monday, the National Coordinator of the TIB, Juwon Sanyaolu, said their demand “is practically for the repeal of the Cybercrime Act.”
“It involves the question of how the Cybercrime Act is being used to suppress free speech. And like, you know, journalists and activists are usually the victims of both the Cybercrime Act and suppression of free speech, including social media users, people like SeaKing and the rest,” Sanyaolu told Punch Online.
“We are also calling for the end to the emergency rule in Rivers State, or as we like to put it, the imposition of a military rule in Rivers State by the government of (President Bola) Tinubu. We are calling for its reversal, the full reinstatement of all organs of government that have been suspended, the State House of Assembly, the Executive and all,” the activist added.
President Bola Tinubu, on March 18, 2025, declared emergency rule in Rivers State over the protracted political crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike.
Tinubu suspended the governor and the lawmakers for six months and appointed a sole administration to run the state.
Tinubu’s decision has generated a lot of controversies, with many asserting that the president breached the country’s constitution. However, the National Assembly backed the President’s decision.
“Of course, most importantly, we are also calling for an end to bad governance. You know, with regards to some of Tinubu’s policies, this has occasioned so much suffering,” Sanyaolu said in a telephone conversation.
He said the protest location is not restricted to Abuja. “It’s a national protest. Flyers for more protest locations will be out soon.”
The police have consistently said they are not out to witch-hunt journalists and suppress press freedom through the application of the amended Cybercrime Act of 2024.
However, since 2024, the country has seen a series of crackdowns on journalists due to the implementation of the Act by the police.
The former editor of First News, Segun Olatunji; Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism; Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting; and Nurudeen Akewushola, an investigative journalist with the platform, were among the victims of the contentious act last year.
Speaking in a video posted on Facebook last month, the force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, emphasised that spreading falsehood, defamation, malinformation, distortion of facts and the likes online were criminal offences.
“Whether you are a content creator, blogger or journalist, you must make sure you verify your stories and possibly, balance your stories before you come online to peddle falsehood.
“I want to put on record that the Nigeria Police Force has not been witch-hunting anybody with the use of the application of the Cybercrime Act of 2024 as amended. We have not charged or arrested anybody for criticising the government, the Inspector General of Police and the police. You can go and check the record.
“We arrested and prosecuted those who were out there peddling falsehood, fake news, disinformation and misinformation to cause problems and discredit individuals and institutions, to malign people and to kill people’s characters,” Adejobi stated.
Punch