Nollywood actor Chidi Mokeme has lent his voice in defence of the planned nationwide protest slated for August 1, saying that protest, like election, is a civic duty.

The actor stated that participating in protests should be considered a civic duty akin to voting.

In a tweet on X, the actor highlighted the insincerity and dishonesty he observed in the actions of elected officials, condemning their use of violence to undermine peaceful protests. 

He said, “Governments have consistently been insincere and untruthful to the people who supposedly elected them.’’

He also drew a comparison between protests and elections, noting that both start with citizens exercising their civic rights, only for disruptions to occur, allegedly instigated by political thugs.

He stated, “Protests are like elections. Peaceful citizens come out to exercise their civic rights. Things start off smoothly, until the politicians unleash their thugs to discredit the process.’’

The 52-year-old actor highlighted lack of accountability on the part of the violent actors, who were rarely prosecuted, saying “The peaceful citizens get caught up in the fracas and thrown into a stampede. But perpetrators of violence are never brought to trial nor justice ever served. Violence of any kind is totally condemned. Rights must be protected.”

Condemning all forms of violence and calling for the protection of rights, he aligned himself with a growing movement of Nigerians who demand accountability and justice from their government.