Justice and Equity Movement Cancels June 12 Protest, Cites False Allegations and Political Mischief
The Justice and Equity Movement (JEM) has officially withdrawn plans to stage a nationwide protest originally scheduled for June 12, a symbolic date in Nigeria’s democratic history.
The organisation cited deeply troubling discoveries that the protest was being driven by fabricated claims, targeted blackmail, and political mischief intended to discredit key figures in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Comrade Moshood Ajibola, the group’s convener, made this announcement in a strongly worded statement in which he condemned the manipulation of facts and misuse of public sentiment for hidden agendas. He revealed that the planned demonstration was based on deliberate falsehoods designed to malign respected public officials and mislead the public into unjustified outrage.
According to Ajibola, those originally behind the protest intended to cast aspersions on several high-ranking government officials, including: Senate President Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio (GCON), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Chief Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief George Akume.
JEM disclosed that these individuals were being targeted with baseless allegations intended to damage their reputations, disrupt public confidence, and incite unrest under the guise of civic activism.
“We uncovered a coordinated effort to misinform and manipulate the public through malicious narratives that have no grounding in truth,” Ajibola stated. “This is not just about false information—it represents a betrayal of the principles of justice and democracy which June 12 stands for. We refuse to let such a sacred date be hijacked by forces of blackmail and deception.”
The group emphasized that their decision to cancel the protest was not an act of retreat, but one of integrity. They stressed that misinformation and character assassination have no place in the struggle for equity and accountability.
In a passionate appeal to other civil society organisations and advocacy groups, JEM called for heightened vigilance, truth-seeking, and responsibility when dealing with politically charged claims.
“Before taking to the streets or rallying the public, we must verify our facts and understand the true motives behind the messages we receive,” Ajibola cautioned. “Mobilising citizens based on lies only undermines the credibility of advocacy and damages our democracy.”
Furthermore, the Justice and Equity Movement did not mince words in issuing a warning to those they identified as the architects of the misinformation campaign. “We will not remain silent while some individuals toy with truth and public trust. We are prepared to uncover, expose, and confront those responsible for engineering this campaign of deceit,” Ajibola declared.
He concluded by reaffirming the group’s unwavering commitment to promoting justice, transparency, and responsible civic engagement. “To those manipulating narratives for personal or political gain: your actions will not go unchecked. This is a wake-up call—we will hold you accountable.”
As the nation commemorates Democracy Day on June 12, the Justice and Equity Movement’s statement serves as both a caution and a challenge—urging Nigerians to protect the integrity of their democracy and reject attempts to exploit it for selfish ends.