Eshioromeh Sebastian in Abuja
A nationwide protest against Nigeria’s new Tax Reform Laws, scheduled for January 20, 2026, has been thrown into chaos and division following explosive allegations of a N300 million bribery scandal within the organisers’ ranks.
The crisis escalated on Friday when a faction of the protest movement publicly withdrew from the planned demonstration.
In a damning statement, the breakaway group accused the core leadership of accepting a N300 million bribe and conspiring to transform a genuine civic action into a platform for violent unrest.
The faction’s leader, Mustapha Abdulahi, asserted that the protest had been compromised and was now being sponsored by the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of a sinister plot to destabilise the country.
He called for an immediate investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and urged security agencies to arrest the main organisers to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“The allegation of a N300 million bribe has irrevocably divided us. We broke away after discovering that some leaders collected this colossal sum. We call on the EFCC to investigate this matter without delay”, Abdulahi stated.
Abdulahi elaborated that the group’s original intention was purely to advocate for Nigerians burdened by the economic impact of the new tax laws, which took effect on January 1, 2026. However, he claimed the movement had been cynically hijacked.
“We have uncovered, to our chagrin, that the leadership is being influenced and sponsored by the ADC opposition coalition with the sole purpose of causing public disorder,” he alleged.
He further suggested that the ADC, facing bleak prospects in the 2027 general elections, saw the protest as an opportunity to “create anarchy which could possibly lead to a regime change.”
Condemning the transformation of the cause into what he called “a money-spinning venture and a platform for political patronage,” Abdulahi announced his faction’s formal cancellation of participation.
“Our withdrawal is a call for unity, maturity, and patriotism. Nigeria’s economic recovery requires collective sacrifice and responsible civic action, not violence and politically motivated chaos”, he said.
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