LAGOS — Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, and human rights lawyer, Ayo Obe, have warned that Nigeria’s 2027 general elections may fall short of credibility if the shortcomings witnessed in previous elections are allowed to continue.
The legal practitioners made the remarks on Thursday at the 25th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture in Lagos, where they stressed the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly follow electoral laws and guidelines.
They also identified the rejection of vote buying and adequate protection of voters from intimidation as essential measures for ensuring credible elections.
The lecture, titled “Democracy at the Crossroads: Electoral Credibility, Judicial Integrity and the Future of Nigeria,” examined the roles of the judiciary and electoral institutions in protecting the country’s democratic system.
Falana, who chaired the event, raised concerns over alleged threats against political opponents across the country and questioned why politicians continued to employ inflammatory language.
He warned that civil society organisations would resort to legal action against individuals who threaten political opponents.
According to Falana, the 2027 general elections would be a major test for Nigeria’s democracy. However, he expressed concern over developments that could indicate that the elections may not be free and fair.
“Democracy is said to be at a crossroads because the 2027 general elections will provide a real opportunity when a crucial decision is required to be made in the life of the nation.
“Many of us are not very confident that the next election will be free and fair. It is indisputable that elections have become the foundation of democracy. Therefore, it is the right of citizens to participate freely and peacefully in the democratic process without fear, intimidation or threat,” he said.
The SAN also criticised the growing dependence on election tribunals and courts for the resolution of electoral disputes. He noted that several petitions had been dismissed either on technical grounds or because petitioners failed to prove their allegations.
Falana Raises Alarm Over Vote Buying
Falana expressed particular concern about the increasing prevalence and cost of vote buying, saying recent off-cycle elections demonstrated how deeply the practice had become entrenched.
He cited the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, alleging that billions of naira were spent in attempts to influence voters.
“In the recently concluded election in Osun State, none of us can say that the election was good enough to produce a candidate that the people of Osun wanted. It was a very expensive adventure.
“Somebody said about N50 billion was spent to bribe voters. Another said N110 billion was spent to bribe voters. Another said it was around N43 billion. Billions of naira were spent bribing voters for their votes, in order to produce a governor,” he said.
He warned that the scale of vote buying could become even greater in 2027, when elections are expected to take place nationwide.
Falana noted that the amount reportedly offered to voters had increased in recent elections, with figures ranging from N5,000 in Ekiti State to between N20,000 and N50,000 in Osun State.
He cautioned that the amounts could rise further during the 2027 general elections.
Obe Urges Electoral Officials to Follow Due Process
Speaking at the lecture, Obe urged electoral officials to remain guided by their conscience and comply strictly with established procedures, noting that their actions would ultimately be judged by future generations.
She highlighted the conduct of Professor Nnenna Nnannaya Oti, the Returning Officer for the 2023 Abia State governorship election, as an example of electoral integrity.
Obe recalled that Oti resisted pressure to announce unverified results from Obingwa Local Government Area and insisted that the figures be authenticated through data from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) before the collation process could continue.
She quoted Oti as saying: “I shall stand squarely on the processes and procedures of INEC. The pastor and the mother in me will not permit me to do anything that will adversely affect the future of our children. I will not compromise.”
According to Obe, Oti’s stance provided a “glimmer of hope” that officials within Nigeria’s electoral system could still be relied upon to uphold due process.
“She refused to announce unverified results. She insisted that BVAS data be used to authenticate figures from Obingwa LGA before collation resumed,” Obe said.
She maintained that strict adherence to INEC’s established procedures remained crucial to ensuring credible elections.
“The part of her declaration on which I want to dwell is, ‘I shall stand squarely on the processes and procedures of INEC.’ This is important because many of us talk as though the whole system is faulty, and that without the famous ‘electronic transmission of results’, an election in Nigeria is automatically suspect and must be rejected,” she said.
Obe further called on all electoral stakeholders to perform their duties responsibly, warning that failure to do so could further weaken Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Okonkwo Marks 25th Edition of Annual Lecture
In his remarks, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), reflected on his long-standing relationship with Falana, recalling that the lawyer handled some of his cases during the early years of his ministry.
Okonkwo urged Nigerians to be willing to contribute to efforts aimed at bringing about meaningful and positive change in the country.
He also praised Obe for her presentation and expressed gratitude to God for allowing him to celebrate another birthday and witness the 25th edition of the annual lecture.
