Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, has labeled the All Progressives Congress’s reliance on consensus for governorship primaries, particularly in Ogun State, as a form of extortion and plutocracy that weakens democratic foundations.
During the 8th Penpushing Annual Lecture in Abeokuta, focused on restoring electoral integrity, Falana emphasized that true democratic integrity begins with open and transparent primary elections. He argued that the consensus model strips party members of their right to select candidates of their choice, despite the method being technically permitted under the Electoral Act.
Beyond internal party procedures, Falana warned that deregistering political parties and excluding them from electoral participation poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s multi-party structure. He noted that historical trends in Africa show that political exclusion often fuels undemocratic behavior.
The legal expert also highlighted the excessive spending during primaries. Citing claims from EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, he pointed out that some aspirants reportedly spent up to 30 billion naira during their campaigns. Falana questioned the origin of such vast funds, asserting that this level of financial influence fuels systemic corruption and undermines the entire political framework. He urged for immediate legislative and party-level reforms to restore transparency and protect the nation’s democratic future.
