Senate President Godswill Akpabio has accused the candidates who lost in the 2023 presidential election of being behind the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 and 10. Speaking at the State House, Abuja, after witnessing President Bola Tinubu sign the new minimum wage bill into law, Akpabio alleged that Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Omoyele Sowore of the AAC, and other defeated candidates are seeking to challenge the election results through protests.

Akpabio warned that such protests could lead to anarchy, asserting that those behind the demonstrations are attempting to overturn the election outcome through “the back door.” He urged protesters to avoid damaging properties, emphasizing the financial strain such actions would place on the country.
The Senate President also expressed concerns about potential looting and other violent activities associated with the protest. He urged that the right to protest should not be misused to incite violence or destabilize the nation.

In his defense of the current administration, Akpabio attributed the current economic hardships to the consequences of past governmental policies, rather than the actions of President Tinubu’s administration. He highlighted the government’s efforts to address food security and economic challenges, urging Nigerian youth not to be misled by politically motivated groups.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had previously raised alarms about the involvement of foreign mercenaries in planning the protest, further intensifying the security concerns surrounding the planned demonstrations.