By Maryam Usman Nagado
A vast coalition of 201 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Kano State has publicly disowned a recent anti-corruption protest, labeling it a politically motivated stunt by five unknown groups that do not represent the broader civil society community.
The backlash comes in response to a publication titled “Protest and Solidarity Walk by Kano Civil Society Organisations Against Corruption,” dated September 4, 2025, and signed by a group calling itself the ‘Forum of Kano CSOs Against Corruption.’
In a strongly-worded statement endorsed by hundreds of organizations, the Patriotic Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (PCCSOs) accused the five groups of misrepresentation and attempting to hijack the anti-corruption narrative for political ends.
“The so-called ‘Forum of Kano CSOs Against Corruption’ is not a recognized coalition within the Kano CSO family,” the statement read. “Their protest does not represent the collective position of the civil society community in Kano State. It is misleading to claim to speak for ‘the people of Kano’ without the mandate of the broader CSO constituency.”
The coalition took particular issue with the protest’s methodology, arguing that it presented allegations of corruption against public officials as established facts. The PCCSOs emphasized that the matters are still under investigation by anti-graft agencies and that no court has yet delivered a guilty verdict.
“It is therefore irresponsible for any group to pass judgment prematurely and mislead the public,” the coalition stated.
In a robust defense of the state government’s record, the coalition listed several mechanisms it says demonstrate a commitment to transparency, including:
· Full compliance with external audits and fiscal reporting.
· Adoption of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to reduce financial leakages.
· An open budgeting process that includes CSO participation.
· Established procurement monitoring units and anti-corruption desks across government ministries.
The statement also refuted allegations that the government harasses CSOs and the media, calling the claims “unfounded” and pointing to the inclusion of civil society members on government committees as evidence of an open civic space.
“We support the EFCC, ICPC, and all oversight agencies to continue their work diligently. However, we reject attempts to politicize the anti-corruption fight or to use CSOs as tools for smear campaigns,” said the coalition’s conveners, Hassan Ibrahim Gama and Mustapha Muhammed Chiroma.
The 201 signatory organizations, which represent a wide cross-section of development, advocacy, and community-based groups, reiterated their commitment to evidence-based advocacy and constructive engagement over what they termed “sensational protests” and “divisive narratives.”
They urged the public to disregard the earlier protest and instead support collective actions that strengthen governance institutions in Kano State.