Human rights lawyer Femi Falana warned that Nigeria risks having only one presidential candidate in the 2027 election if judicial interference in political party affairs persists.
He made this known at the fifth Comrade Yinka Odumakin Memorial Lecture held at the Airport Hotel.
The event was attended by prominent figures including Joe Ajaero, activist Omoyele Sowore, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olumide Fusika. It was hosted by the President of the Oluyinka Odumakin Foundation, Joe Odumakin, alongside other activists such as Agba Jalingo and Richard Akinola.
While delivering the memorial lecture, Falana argued that conflicting court orders and rulings are being deployed to destabilise political parties, warning that such actions could result in a situation where only one party fields a presidential candidate in 2027.
His remarks followed a recent position by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which stated that it would no longer recognise factions of the African Democratic Congress led by David Mark or Rafiu Bala.
The commission said its decision was based on a Court of Appeal ruling directing it to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of a suit challenging the party’s leadership.
Falana criticised the judiciary for interfering in the internal workings of political parties, despite provisions in the Electoral Act that discourage such actions.
He warned that continued manipulation of the courts by political actors and legal practitioners could undermine democracy.
Falana said, “Through the manipulation of Nigerian courts and senior lawyers, you may have only one candidate contesting the presidential election in this country.
If that happens, Nigeria may not even need to spend money on a presidential election.”
According to him, if the trend persists, Nigeria might witness a presidential election with only one candidate, making the exercise unnecessary.
Falana further cautioned that actions capable of eroding public confidence in the electoral process could trigger unrest if citizens feel deprived of genuine choices.
He urged civil society organisations, labour unions, and political activists to mobilise in defence of democratic values, stressing the need for coordinated action rather than disorganised protests.
“We must stop agonising and start organising in the interest of our people and democracy,” he said.
