Get Guardian on GoogleA United Kingdom-based Nigerian lawyer, Otunba Dayo Babalola, has alleged that some of the demonstrators who confronted the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, outside Chatham House in London were paid to stage the protest.
Babalola, who said he attended the engagement on Thursday and witnessed the events, dismissed suggestions that the protesters represented Nigerians living in the diaspora, describing them as a small group of between 10 and 15 people.
The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of INEC’s preliminary voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission recently announced the removal of 1,608,660 invalid registrations following a review of the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
It also deleted 873 records of deceased persons, bringing the total number of records removed to 1,609,553.
The lawyer in a statement faulted reports and social media posts about the incident, accusing some commentators of presenting a misleading account of what happened.
“Diaspora Nigerians? Nothing could be further from the truth.
“I was physically present at Chatham House yesterday, and I can state categorically that the narrative being circulated on social media is a gross misrepresentation of what actually transpired.
“Those involved in the incident were not a representation of Nigerians in the diaspora, nor were they a reflection of the audience that attended the event.”
Amupitan had participated in a Chatham House discussion titled, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot,” where he addressed issues surrounding Nigeria’s democratic development, electoral integrity and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The controversy followed a demonstration by a group outside the venue as the INEC chairman was leaving. Reports said the protesters blocked his vehicle and demanded answers over alleged irregularities in the voters’ register, while calling for his resignation.
But Babalola maintained that the demonstration happened after the official engagement had ended and did not disrupt the programme.
He said Amupitan made contributions to the discussion and responded to questions from participants before the protesters gathered outside.
Giving his account of the incident, the lawyer alleged that some demonstrators wore memorabilia associated with Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.
“I was physically present throughout the incident and witnessed the recording of several videos that are now being circulated. Some of those involved were wearing Peter Obi-branded memorabilia.
“The situation eventually attracted the attention of Chatham House security, and when the police were called, the individuals dispersed,” he said.
Babalola further alleged that he encountered some of the protesters later on Jermyn Street, where he claimed to have witnessed a man wearing New Democratic Congress (NDC) memorabilia making payments to them.
He said the group recognised him and hurled insults at him during the encounter.
“When they saw me they threw a few insults at me and I smiled and simply said at least you guys have now made some small pounds to pay your bills for a few days even as I walked past them,” he recounted.
The lawyer also disputed claims that the Chatham House engagement attracted a poor audience, insisting that the physical venue was well attended.
According to him, close to 200 people, mostly Nigerians, attended the programme physically, while 374 people registered and participated online.
He stressed that the demonstrators were not part of the audience and remained outside the premises throughout the engagement.
To support his account, Babalola said he could be seen in some of the videos circulating online, standing close to the main entrance of Chatham House.
“I was actually visible in the circulating video between approximately 2:22 and 2:45, standing by the main entrance of Chatham House, dressed in a suit and holding my muffler. I mention this simply to establish that my account is not based on hearsay,” he said.
He argued that the protest should not be used to undermine the outcome of the official engagement, insisting that Amupitan completed his assignment without interruption.
“What happened outside the venue afterwards should not be deliberately conflated with the quality, substance or outcome of the official engagement,” he said.
While acknowledging the right of citizens to protest and demand accountability from public officials, Babalola warned against generalising the actions of a handful of demonstrators as the position of Nigerians living abroad.
“People are entitled to their political opinions. They are equally entitled to peaceful protest and to demand accountability from public office holders.
“However, political disagreement must not become an excuse for misinformation, sensationalism or the deliberate distortion of events. A handful of individuals cannot legitimately be presented as the voice of the entire Nigerian diaspora,” he said.
He also criticised social media commentators for amplifying what he described as misleading accounts without establishing the circumstances surrounding the demonstration.
“I find it particularly disappointing that some social media commentators have chosen to amplify a misleading caption without establishing the facts or understanding the context of the incident.
“There is a clear distinction between a legitimate protest and an attempt to manufacture a narrative for political propaganda,” he added.
Reiterating his position, Babalola said the INEC chairman attended the event, delivered his presentation, answered questions and participated in the panel discussion before the demonstration took place.
“A small group subsequently staged a demonstration outside the venue. Those two events should not be misrepresented as one, nor should the actions of a handful of individuals be attributed to Nigerians in the diaspora,” he said.
