The SNWR on Saturday described the court ruling as a victory for democratic resistance and a rebuke of what it called politically motivated repression by the state.
The Solidarity Network for Workers’ Rights (SNWR) has welcomed the discharge and acquittal of 11 protesters arrested for the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.
The SNWR on Saturday described the court ruling as a victory for democratic resistance and a rebuke of what it called politically motivated repression by the state.
In a statement signed by Daniel Akande, SNWR said it “extends profound appreciation to all well-meaning Nigerians, labour activists, student movements, community organisers, civil society allies, and the international socialist and human rights community” for their support during the trial of the activists.
On 10 December 2025, the Federal High Court acquitted Akande and ten others who had been charged with treason and terrorism following protests against worsening economic conditions.
According to SNWR, the ruling “stands as a clear indictment of the police and the Nigerian government’s attempts to silence dissent and undermine democratic rights.”
“The court ruling, anchored on the obvious lack of diligent prosecution, reaffirms what we have said from the onset: this trial was never about justice,” the group said.
“It was a deliberate effort to intimidate activists speaking out against corruption, hunger, unemployment, police brutality, insecurity, and worsening living conditions under the Tinubu administration.”
SNWR argued that the collapse of the case showed the limits of state repression, stating that “faced with rising anger across society, the state sought to criminalise protest and resistance. Today, that attempt has collapsed before the Nigerian people and the world.”
Describing the acquittal as a broader political victory, the organisation said it should encourage greater unity among workers, students, youths and rural communities.
“This victory is a powerful reminder to workers, students, youths, and oppressed communities that when we fight, we can win,” the statement read.
“Our collective resistance has shown that tyranny cannot withstand the organised will of a conscious and determined people.”
However, SNWR warned that the underlying causes of the protests remain unresolved.
“While this acquittal is a significant triumph, it is not the end of our struggle,” it said, adding that “hardship has deepened,” with “unbearable” living costs, widespread hunger, rising unemployment and persistent insecurity.
The group accused Nigeria’s ruling elite of consolidating wealth at the expense of the majority. “The ruling elite consolidate their grip on power, converting the nation’s wealth into private property for a privileged few while millions suffer,” the statement said.
Calling for systemic change, SNWR said Nigeria requires “a complete break from the capitalist establishment that thrives on exploitation, inequality, corruption, and repression.”
It reiterated its demand for a socialist alternative, arguing that “the wealth of Nigeria must be publicly owned, democratically controlled, and managed in the interest of the working people who produce it.”
According to the organisation, “only a socialist transformation can guarantee free and quality education, access to healthcare, affordable housing, job creation, food security, and genuine development.”
It also called for “the building of a mass workers’ party, rooted in workplaces, communities, and campuses,” to challenge the current political order.
SNWR described the acquittal as “more than a legal victory,” saying it is “a call to intensify the struggle” and proof that “collective action works.”
The statement concluded with a rallying message: “The struggle continues. Victory is certain. And when we fight together, we can win.”