₦airaland Forum

The senior advocate argued that while Nigeria had conducted elections regularly since the return to civilian rule, the credibility of those elections remained deeply in question.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer Femi Falana has declared that Nigeria's democracy remains hollow as long as elections are determined by money rather than the will of the people, warning that the country faces a defining moment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Falana made the remarks on Saturday while delivering a paper titled 2027: Building A Nation Where No Man Is Oppressed at an event held in honour of the late Chief Alao Aka-Bashorun, one of Nigeria's foremost defenders of constitutionalism and civil liberties.


“A democracy in which citizens doubt the effectiveness of their votes cannot fully achieve democratic legitimacy. Having conceded that members of the ruling class have exclusive right to govern the society, we talk of ‘one man, one vote,’” Falana said.

“The slogan is completely meaningless in a country where the votes are purchased by money bags.”

“The struggle against military rule was not merely about political freedom. It was also about creating conditions under which citizens could enjoy economic dignity. Political liberty without economic justice is incomplete,” he said.


The senior advocate argued that while Nigeria had conducted elections regularly since the return to civilian rule, the credibility of those elections remained deeply in question.

"Although elections are regularly conducted, concerns about electoral credibility persist," he said. "Allegations of vote-buying, manipulation of electoral processes, abuse of incumbency and post-election controversies continue to undermine public confidence."

Falana contended that the struggle against military rule was never solely about political freedom but about securing conditions under which citizens could live with economic dignity, a promise he said Nigeria had yet to fulfil.

"Political liberty without economic justice is incomplete," he said. "According to the senior lawyer, “For millions of Nigerians, democracy has not yet translated into improved living standards. The persistence of poverty amidst enormous national wealth raises fundamental questions about governance and distributive justice. Economic growth that benefits only a small segment of society cannot sustain democratic stability."

He was equally blunt about the accountability deficit he said had come to define public office in Nigeria, arguing that governance had been reduced to an avenue for personal enrichment.

"Unfortunately, many Nigerians increasingly perceive political power as an avenue for personal enrichment rather than public service," he said, adding that regulatory agencies, security institutions and democratic structures were routinely deployed in ways that undermined public confidence.

Falana called on citizens to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act to demand accountability, and urged that 2027 represent not merely another election cycle but the beginning of a renewed commitment to constitutional governance.

"The greatest mistake we can make is to assume that the objectives of the June 12 struggle have been fully achieved," he warned. "The reality is that many of the aspirations that inspired the struggle remain unrealised or unfulfilled."


https://saharareporters.com/2026/06/28/one-man-one-vote-meaningless-where-votes-are-purchased-money-bags-falana-fires-nigerias

It has always been useless especially with the wholesome purchase of INEC by the political class. INEC is now an extention of the rapacious and ruinous ruling party

Don't forget the rice please.

Money and rice.

Nigeria is a poor country, that is why it happens.

The poor person prays every day, as the christians say, give us this day our daily bread, and if a politican can do that, then vote gone.

Yes, we may be complaining about how the poor are being used, but from the point of view of the poor person, and again, majority of Nigerians are poor, he is only being rational. He or she got to meet the needs today.

Besides, most Nigerians do not want a guy like Lee Kwam Yeu, Millei or any of the leaders who would really change NIgeria from third world to first world. They want a guy who would share the money equitably....which feeds into the mentality that makes buying of votes more certain.(and also leads to Nigerians supporting bad economic polices, like subsidy on power, and renewed hope giveaway, rather than industrialization, and encouraging investment, because it means that they see money now).

Nigeria works this way...people want to see money. That is their idea of development. People do not want to hear about fifteen year plans or cuts in the civil service or subsidy removal or fighting corruption at all levels...that means no money eventually for anyone.

And it is that desire to see money that explains why we are underdeveloped and useless as a nation, especially under this current government.


It's not restricted to Nigeria. Argentina for example, now has a sane leader who is doing what needs to be done. But it took them generations of supporting sharing money and building projects economies...which threw the country into massive debt that made them default on their repayments to the IMF twice , before they saw the need to vote a leader who cut government costs, and subsides, and civil service. (Right now, the Argentine peso is getting stronger...a lot more needs to be done). People want free stuff, free money, which is why the UK is changing prime ministars like clothes, because none of them wants to make the fiscal changes needed. The one who tried..Liz Truss, whose chancellor of the exchequer is a politican, AND a proper economists...lasted less than 3 months.


And if we split Nigeria, which I am not opposed to by the way....the new countries are going to become mini nigerias, because no leader is goint to tell people that it would take 2 generations of hard work to get them properly prosperous.

Anyway, Nigeria does not want to do the hard work of eliminating poverty and waste, and development, and the people want money shared, so vote buying continues. Sigh.

Burdillion bullion van came to mind.

How many votes should one man then be entitled to And what alternatives are you suggesting

I get what you're saying, but It's not meaningless. Nigerians Against Vote Buying have to show up in more numbers to the polls

This is a fact, but was the lasting solution

Yet no arrest will be make and nobody to be prosecute even when they posted it online.

U guys are just giving urselves headache,
let them sell their vote and continue on their suffering for another 4years

According to NDC spoke man, peter obi started votes buying as former incumbent governor of anambra state .

fasho01:
How many votes should one man then be entitled to And what alternatives are you suggesting

Help me ask our Oga Falana abeg. Shey it should be one man 10 votes or what?

I don't think one man one vote is the issue here. The issue is the return on investment in public offices. As long as there is money to be made without accountability, people will always invest heavily in getting the votes. What people do with their personal one vote is their business.

yarimo:
According to NDC spoke man, peter obi started votes buying as incumbent governor of anambra state

Yet NDC data boys call the man a saint.

Flanagan used to support Tinubu

You can use your SAN to buy your own vote ..

As for me I have told my wife and my girlfriends who they should vote for

That is illegal - it is election manipulation

AfeezShomorin:
As for me I have told my wife and my girlfriends who they should vote for

He just came to the realization....whereas, this has been the case since 1960!

I dedicate Falz Ole track to Nigeria forthcoming election, everything about that song ring true about Nigeria.

I'm glad he's your son, sir.

Many have been conditioned to embrace their poverty

Of course. He is right. Vote buying is rampant in some region more than others.

Vote buying does not not have enough effect compare to compare to the abrakatabra our darling Eye Neck does…this vote buying matter na cover up story , The real coco is Eye Neck

For all his sanctimonious comments, they should just make this Falana president. If Nigeria doesn’t turn Eldorado after 4 years, he should be stripped naked

iwaeda:
Burdillion bullion van came to mind.

More like the dude that shared money on the street.

If votes weren’t bought to begin with, it would still be useless. If 80% of the country choose to vote one individual, you voting another will lead nowhere.

Not by poor just that we are not united

nairalanda1:
Nigeria is a poor country, that is why it happens.

The poor person prays every day, as the christians say, give us this day our daily bread, and if a politican can do that, then vote gone.

Yes, we may be complaining about how the poor are being used, but from the point of view of the poor person, and again, majority of Nigerians are poor, he is only being rational. He or she got to meet the needs today.

Besides, most Nigerians do not want a guy like Lee Kwam Yeu, Millei or any of the leaders who would really change NIgeria from third world to first world. They want a guy who would share the money equitably....which feeds into the mentality that makes buying of votes more certain.(and also leads to Nigerians supporting bad economic polices, like subsidy on power, and renewed hope giveaway, rather than industrialization, and encouraging investment, because it means that they see money now).

Nigeria works this way...people want to see money. That is their idea of development. People do not want to hear about fifteen year plans or cuts in the civil service or subsidy removal or fighting corruption at all levels...that means no money eventually for anyone.

And it is that desire to see money that explains why we are underdeveloped and useless as a nation, especially under this current government.


It's not restricted to Nigeria. Argentina for example, now has a sane leader who is doing what needs to be done. But it took them generations of supporting sharing money and building projects economies...which threw the country into massive debt that made them default on their repayments to the IMF twice , before they saw the need to vote a leader who cut government costs, and subsides, and civil service. (Right now, the Argentine peso is getting stronger...a lot more needs to be done). People want free stuff, free money, which is why the UK is changing prime ministars like clothes, because none of them wants to make the fiscal changes needed. The one who tried..Liz Truss, whose chancellor of the exchequer is a politican, AND a proper economists...lasted less than 3 months.


And if we split Nigeria, which I am not opposed to by the way....the new countries are going to become mini nigerias, because no leader is goint to tell people that it would take 2 generations of hard work to get them properly prosperous.

Anyway, Nigeria does not want to do the hard work of eliminating poverty and waste, and development, and the people want money shared, so vote buying continues. Sigh.

yarimo:
According to NDC spoke man, peter obi started votes buying as former incumbent governor of anambra state .

The report here which he also posted.

Most countries from around the world that were colonized have over the years rid themselves of some of those colonial vestiges. Nigeria to the contrary seem content at keeping them.

Cities and places around the country are still retaining names and anglicizations that we should have done away with along with the colonialists.

Can we go back and start make changes to such places as Lagos (originally Eko) which we inherited from Portugal, Niger River and State, Awka in Anambra State.

And while we are at that, while the national flag was designed by one of our own, can we spruce it up a bit with some enhancements. Here is my idea of our new national flag. What do you guys think?

Let’s comment, like and share this post to make it go viral to generate a national discussion.

Artsbeat:
Not by poor just that we are not united

Nigerians can be united. The problem is, most of us are poor, and most of us work from the daily bread mentailty

Even if we were united, it would be against a leader who went against that mentality. That's why we never get sane leaders into power.

Taking back this country from some ravenous birds called leaders will demand our concerted and tireless efforts.

One man,one vote is also useless in a nation where electoral body dances to the whims and caprices of the incumbent.

Nigeria is a failed state... Period