Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has said Nigeria’s democracy will remain hollow as long as elections are determined by money rather than the genuine will of the people, warning that the country faces a defining moment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Falana made the remarks on Saturday while delivering a paper titled 2027: Building A Nation Where No Man Is Oppressed at an event held in honour of the late Chief Alao Aka-Bashorun, one of Nigeria’s foremost advocates of constitutionalism, human rights and civil liberties.

He argued that the widespread practice of vote-buying had stripped elections of their democratic value, making the popular slogan of “one man, one vote” meaningless.

“A democracy in which citizens doubt the effectiveness of their votes cannot fully achieve democratic legitimacy. Having conceded that members of the ruling class have exclusive right to govern the society, we talk of ‘one man, one vote,'” Falana said.

“The slogan is completely meaningless in a country where the votes are purchased by money bags.”

The senior advocate noted that although Nigeria had conducted regular elections since the return to democratic rule in 1999, questions surrounding their credibility had continued to erode public confidence.

“Although elections are regularly conducted, concerns about electoral credibility persist,” he said. “Allegations of vote-buying, manipulation of electoral processes, abuse of incumbency and post-election controversies continue to undermine public confidence.”

Falana maintained that the struggle against military rule was never solely about restoring political freedom but also about creating a society where citizens could enjoy economic dignity and social justice.

“The struggle against military rule was not merely about political freedom. It was also about creating conditions under which citizens could enjoy economic dignity. Political liberty without economic justice is incomplete,” he said.

According to him, democracy has failed to deliver meaningful improvements in the lives of many Nigerians despite the country’s vast natural and economic resources.

“For millions of Nigerians, democracy has not yet translated into improved living standards. The persistence of poverty amidst enormous national wealth raises fundamental questions about governance and distributive justice.

 Economic growth that benefits only a small segment of society cannot sustain democratic stability,” he said.

Falana also criticised what he described as a growing accountability deficit in public office, saying many political office holders viewed governance as an opportunity for personal enrichment rather than public service.

“Unfortunately, many Nigerians increasingly perceive political power as an avenue for personal enrichment rather than public service,” he said, adding that regulatory agencies, security institutions and democratic structures were often deployed in ways that weakened public trust.

He urged citizens to make greater use of the Freedom of Information Act to demand transparency and accountability from public officials.

Falana further called for the 2027 general elections to mark the beginning of a renewed commitment to constitutional governance rather than merely another electoral cycle.

“The greatest mistake we can make is to assume that the objectives of the June 12 struggle have been fully achieved,” he said.
“The reality is that many of the aspirations that inspired the struggle remain unrealised or unfulfilled.”