By Jane Okafor, Abeokuta
Allegation of a ₦300 million bribery has hit the Anti – new Tax Reform Laws Protest Group, throwing members in disarray and threatened the planned nationwide protest scheduled for January 20, 2026 against the implementation of the tax laws by the Federal Government.
The allegation also broke the organisers into rival factions with a breakaway faction of the protest movement announcing on Friday its withdrawal from the January 20 planned demonstration, even as it accused the movement’s leadership of collecting a ₦300 million bribe and plotting to exploit the protest to foist unrest on the country.
The faction also alleged that the protest was being sponsored by an opposition party as part of a wider agenda to destabilise the nation, compelling it to demand cancellation of the protest and an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Leader of the faction, Mustapha Abdulahi, in a statement, urged security agencies to arrest the organisers of the planned January 20 protest to prevent a countrywide breakdown of law and order.
“The allegation of ₦300 million bribe has divided members of the group planning a protest against the Tax Reform Laws,” Abdulahi said. “We have broken away from the group following the discovery that some members of the leadership have collected a bribe to the tune of ₦300 million. We hereby call on the EFCC to immediately investigate this matter.”
Abdulahi further alleged that the protest was no longer driven by genuine civic concerns but had been hijacked for political purposes.
“We have uncovered, to our chagrin, that the leadership of the group is being influenced and sponsored by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the opposition coalition, with the sole purpose of causing public disorder and commotion,” he said.
According to him, the opposition party was seeking to exploit public discontent over the tax reforms to ignite unrest and possibly force a regime change.
“We have it on good authority that the ADC, having been faced with the reality of making no significant impact in the 2027 general elections, sees this as an opportunity to create anarchy which could possibly lead to a regime change,” Abdulahi added. “On this note, we call on security agencies to arrest and prosecute the leader of the movement and his wingmen.”
The faction said it initially supported the planned protest out of concern for Nigerians grappling with economic hardship, especially following the commencement of the Tax Reform Laws on January 1, 2026.
“We initially embraced the struggle when the intention was purely to prevail on the government to have a rethink over the laws as they affect common Nigerians who are already being hit hard by the economic realities of the time,” Abdulahi said.
However, he said the group could no longer be associated with the protest after discovering it had become “a money-spinning venture and a platform for political patronage.”
“Now that some of our members have turned it into a money-spinning venture and political patronage, we have backed out and reiterate our call on the EFCC and security agencies to investigate and prosecute those involved for bribery and plans to cause violence,” he stated.
The faction announced the cancellation of its participation in the protest, describing its withdrawal as an appeal for calm and responsible civic engagement.
“Our withdrawal from the protest is a call for unity, maturity and patriotism,” Abdulahi said. “Nigeria’s economic recovery requires collective sacrifice and responsible civic action.”
