From Christopher Oji
All is set for today, Thursday, June 12, to mark the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, won by MKO Abiola.
The youth have vowed to protest the bad governance of successive leaders.
As early as 7 am, placard-carrying protesters have started gathering at Ikeja Underbridge, waiting for the arrival of others.
As of 9:12 am, the crowd was still gathering momentum, planning to march to Government House, Alausa, where they will address the governor and present their demands, which include, among others, good governance.
However, policemen from different formations and squads of the Nigeria Police Force have been mandated by Lagos State Police Commissioner Moshood Jimoh to take over the public spaces to avoid hoodlums hijacking the protest.
As of press time, 9:20 am, policemen are on ground at Ikeja Underbridge to lead the protesters to their destination, while the protesters were still waiting for their colleagues, who were making phone calls about their whereabouts and assuring them that they would join them in no distant time.
The demonstrators, including civil society groups and pro-democracy activists, were gathering to voice concerns over worsening economic conditions and rising insecurity under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a bid to ensure public safety and order during the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations, Commissioner of Police Jimoh met with the leadership of 15 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The meeting, held at the Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, focused on maintaining peace during both the commemorative events and the proposed protest.
The dialogue was described as interactive and constructive, with both the police and CSO representatives affirming a shared commitment to public safety. While half of the CSOs confirmed they would join in nationwide celebrations, the other half indicated plans to stage a peaceful protest. All protest groups agreed to gather at the Ikeja Underbridge and jointly proceed to Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, the only location authorised for protest activities on June 12.
CP Jimoh emphasised the importance of preserving law and order throughout the day’s events and cautioned against disruptions to public peace. The CSOs pledged to ensure that their members conduct themselves responsibly and prevent any attempts by non-state actors to hijack the protest for unlawful purposes.
Participants also agreed to uphold traffic regulations and avoid actions that could obstruct the movement of other Lagosians or disrupt the general atmosphere of celebration. The Commissioner reiterated the Command’s commitment to providing adequate security for both celebrants and protesters across the state.
The meeting was attended by representatives of various rights and advocacy groups, including Access to Advocacy & Rights of People, Centre for Indigene Government Group, Ideal Society Advocacy Groups, Human Rights Monitor, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Beko Ransome Kuti Group, Rights Kline, Community Development Group, and Initiatives for Development and Advocacy, among others.
CSO leaders assured the Commissioner that they would communicate the resolutions of the meeting to other civil society groups not present to ensure broad compliance and coordination.
The Lagos State Police Command called on all residents to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and vigilant during the celebrations. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station. Emergency lines 08063299264 and 08065154338 will remain active throughout the period.
The Command expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the CSOs and urged Lagosians to commemorate Democracy Day without fear or disruption.