Nigeria Heading Toward One-Candidate Presidency – Falana

​LAGOS – Human rights luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, has sounded a dire alarm over the future of Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the country is drifting toward a “one-candidate” presidential election in 2027 if the judiciary continues its current trajectory of meddling in political party affairs.

​Delivering a scathing critique during the 5th Comrade Yinka Odumakin Memorial Lecture in Lagos on Thursday, Falana argued that the systematic destabilization of political opposition—often facilitated by conflicting court orders—is clearing the path for a return to a virtual one-party state.

​”Through the manipulation of Nigerian courts and senior lawyers, you may have only one candidate contesting the presidential election in this country,” Falana stated before an audience of activists and labor leaders. “If that happens, Nigeria may not even need to spend money on a presidential election.”

​The “Judicialization” of Politics

​Falana’s warning comes on the heels of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent move to de-recognize the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following a Court of Appeal ruling. He cited this as a prime example of how legal technicalities are being used to “decapitate” parties from within.

​He criticized the judiciary for ignoring clear provisions of the Electoral Act that seek to limit court involvement in internal party matters. By entertaining suits that should be handled internally, Falana contends, the courts are becoming tools for political saboteurs.

​Beyond the Ballot: Oil and Policing

​While the 2027 warning stole the headlines, Falana used the lecture—themed “Can Nigeria’s Democracy Work Without Restructuring?”—to demand a radical shift in resource control.

ADVERTISEMENT

​He urged the Federal Government to stop awarding oil bloc licenses to “dangerously rich” individuals, including retired generals and socialites, and instead transfer those licenses to State and Local Governments to ensure civil servants are paid living wages.

​The legal giant also touched on the hot-button issue of State Police, expressing support for the concept but warning that without a “well-structured mechanism,” governors would simply use state-controlled forces to oppress political rivals and silence dissent.

​”Stop Agonizing, Start Organizing”

​The event, attended by figures such as Joe Ajaero, Omoyele Sowore, and Gani Adams, served as a rallying cry for civil society. Falana cautioned that if Nigerians feel deprived of genuine electoral choices, the resulting frustration could trigger uncoordinated unrest.

​“We must stop agonizing and start organizing in the interest of our people and democracy,” Falana concluded, calling for a united front among labor unions and activists to defend the democratic process before the 2027 cycle begins in earnest.