Femi Falana, a human rights attorney, bemoaned the fact that “plutocracy has replaced democracy in Nigeria.” This, according to him, is resulting in “people losing confidence in the democratic process.“
Falana gave a keynote speech titled “General Elections in Nigeria 2023: A Review of the Nation’s Political Culture and Electoral Integrity.” He gave it at the 2023 Law Week Programme of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin chapter. It was held in Benin City, Edo State.
Femi Falana claimed that only 22 million of the 93 million registered voters cast ballots in the presidential election.
The paper reads:
“INEC must also address insecurity at some polling units, including violent attacks on voters and officials, voter intimidation, snatching and destruction of voting materials, significant cases of vote-buying, and limited access facilities for persons living with disabilities.
“The Benin branch of the NBA should prevail on the national body of lawyers to convoke a national summit to review the 2023 general elections as soon as the curtain is drawn on the election petitions by the various election petition tribunals, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
“The NBA should ensure that the summit is attended by the representatives of all relevant stakeholders. At the end of the programme, the NBA should collaborate with the judiciary committees of both houses of the national assembly in drafting amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Act to institutionalise credible elections in Nigeria.
“All mass-based organisations must mobilise the Nigerian people to take their political destiny into their hands by participating in the democratic process.”
cc: Vanguard Ng
