Nigeria protests: President Tinubu makes claims of ‘sinister motives’

But Mr Tinubu’s camp has accused supporters of defeated presidential candidate Peter Obi of planning the protests, and galvanising support on social media with hashtags such as #TinubuMUSTGo and #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.

“Obi should be held responsible for anarchy,” said presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga in an online post, external.

Mr Obi’s Labour Party has issued a statement denying this, external, calling the allegations a “figment of the author’s imagination” and branding the government “puerile”.

“Labour Party, Peter Obi and our supporters are not planning any protests,” the statement continued, but pointedly added: “The people have the right to protest and it is within their constitutional right”.

Mr Obi rallied young people, mostly in southern Nigeria, in the 2023 election, but came third. He alleged that the result was rigged in Mr Tinubu’s favour, but a court dismissed his case.

Local media say there is also opposition to the planned protests from a group of small-scale retailers, called the Self Reliance for Physically Challenged Traders of Nigeria, who say, external they “do not want to experience the turmoil and violence that occurred during the #EndSARS protests, which left deep scars on our nation.”

Across the continent in Uganda, there are similar fears from President Yoweri Museveni who warned protesters against “playing with fire” and accused them of undermining his government while “we are busy producing wealth” for the country.

A number of demonstrators were arrested on Tuesday trying to make their way to parliament to protest against what they say are high levels of corruption in government.

On the same day in neighbouring Kenya, police tear-gassed hundreds of protesters in the capital city, Nairobi. Many were attempting to reach the main airport and shut down operations.