Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), a civil society group focused on youth engagement, has alerted the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to a planned peaceful protest in Abuja. The demonstration aims to spotlight what the organisation calls "growing political intolerance and undemocratic practices" in Enugu State.
In separate letters to the Inspector-General of Police and the DSS director-general, YOTSI warned that such developments could damage democratic participation, political stability and public trust in Nigeria's electoral process before the 2027 general elections.
The group stressed it's exercising constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression. According to YOTSI, the protest targets alleged political intimidation, intolerance and undemocratic conduct by political actors in the state.
Left unchecked, these issues risk weakening democratic participation and eroding citizens' confidence in elections as the country heads toward 2027, the organisation argued. It also flagged concerns that Enugu's current political atmosphere could threaten peace and national security without constructive democratic dialogue and respect for the rule of law.
"Our objective is to advocate for the preservation of democracy, the rule of law, political tolerance and the protection of every citizen's constitutional right to participate freely in the democratic process without fear of intimidation or discrimination," YOTSI stated.
The protest is scheduled for August 17, 2026, with participants expected to gather at Maitama Roundabout before marching peacefully to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja. The organisers anticipate roughly 3,000 participants.
YOTSI promised security agencies the demonstration will be peaceful, orderly and law-abiding, with participants instructed to conduct themselves responsibly and avoid disrupting public peace. The group appealed to police and other security agencies to provide adequate protection for protesters, the public and infrastructure during the event.
Kennedy Iyere, YOTSI's founding president, addressed a press conference on the matter and voiced serious concern about the state of political discourse. "The increasing intolerance towards opposition voices in Enugu State should concern all defenders of democracy," he said.
According to him, democracy only thrives when citizens can express different views, hold leaders accountable and engage politically without fear of harassment or intimidation. Iyere added that the protest aims to defend democratic values and focus national attention on issues that could undermine public confidence in future elections if unresolved.
