90% of Protests in Nigeria Are Politically Sponsored

Comedian Deeone

Nigerian comedian and former Big Brother Naija housemate, DeeOne, has stirred widespread reactions after claiming that the majority of protests in Nigeria are driven by political interests.

Speaking during a podcast with Vanguard on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the entertainer alleged that “about 90 per cent of protests in Nigeria are politically sponsored.”

According to him, many demonstrations are not entirely organic but are influenced or funded by politicians pursuing specific agendas.

DeeOne explained that political actors often work behind the scenes to support protest movements, either to promote their interests or undermine their opponents.

He added that this makes it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to distinguish between genuine public outcry and politically motivated actions.
“There’s always an agenda behind most of them,” he stated.

His remarks have since generated mixed reactions across social media platforms. While some Nigerians agree with his perspective, others strongly disagree, arguing that many protests stem from real issues such as economic hardship and public frustration.

One social media user, identified as @NaijaCitizenX, countered the claim, saying, “Saying 90% of protests are sponsored is wild. People are hungry, frustrated and tired. Not everything is politics.”

The statement has further fueled conversations around the authenticity of civic movements and the role of political influence in public demonstrations across the country.