Governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, Dr. Farah Dagogo, has said widespread protests across Nigeria reflect what he described as deep public frustration over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and what he called “failed promises” by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
In a statement issued to mark Democracy Day, Dagogo said the current wave of demonstrations in several parts of the country should not be dismissed as isolated unrest but as a broader signal of declining public confidence in government policies and direction.
He argued that Nigerians have endured years of economic strain under successive APC administrations, insisting that the situation has become more severe in the last three years, particularly for households grappling with rising living costs, inflationary pressures and shrinking incomes.
According to him, the combination of policy decisions, including fuel subsidy removal, alongside persistent insecurity and economic instability, has deepened hardship across the country without corresponding relief measures reaching citizens.
“The widespread protests being witnessed across major cities and communities in the country are not isolated incidents; they are a reflection of the deep frustration, hunger, and hopelessness that many Nigerians are experiencing today,” Dagogo said.
He added that the mood in the country has become increasingly negative, warning that public anxiety and despair are now overshadowing the democratic ideals usually associated with Democracy Day celebrations.
“As we commemorate another Democracy Day, the prevailing mood across the nation is one of anxiety, despair, and uncertainty. For many citizens, the realities of economic hardship, rising insecurity, and the loss of livelihoods have overshadowed the ideals and promises that democracy represents,” he said.
Dagogo maintained that while government has continued to assure citizens of future improvement, such assurances have not translated into immediate relief for struggling Nigerians.
“Rather than continuing to offer assurances that conditions will improve in the future, the government should focus on taking concrete and immediate steps to ease the burden on Nigerians and restore public confidence,” he stated.
He further expressed confidence that the APC would complete its tenure in 2027, while suggesting that political dynamics in the country were already shifting in favour of alternative platforms, including the African Democratic Congress.
“While it is constitutionally certain that the APC’s tenure will come to an end in 2027, there is growing optimism among Nigerians that a new political direction is possible. We are encouraged by the increasing support for the African Democratic Congress and remain committed to working towards a Nigeria that delivers prosperity, security, justice, and opportunity for all its citizens,” Dagogo said.
The ADC candidate urged political leaders at all levels to take lessons from what he described as the shortcomings of the ruling party, stressing the need to prioritise national unity, good governance and policies that directly improve citizens’ welfare.
