Human rights lawyer Femi Falana and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, have warned that Nigeria risks having a single presidential candidate in the 2027 elections if judicial interference in political party affairs persists.
They spoke at the fifth Comrade Yinka Odumakin Memorial Lecture held in Lagos, where several labour leaders, activists, and public figures gathered to discuss the state of the nation’s democracy.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Falana expressed concern that conflicting court orders and judicial pronouncements were being used to destabilise political parties. He cautioned that such developments could weaken opposition structures and ultimately limit electoral choices for Nigerians.
His remarks followed a recent decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which declined to recognise factions within the African Democratic Congress, citing a Court of Appeal directive to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of a leadership dispute.
Falana criticised the judiciary for intervening in internal party matters, arguing that such actions contradict provisions of the Electoral Act. He warned that undermining democratic processes could trigger unrest if citizens perceive elections as lacking genuine competition.
Similarly, Adams warned that Nigeria was drifting toward a one-party system, alleging that those in power were using the judiciary to suppress opposition voices. He compared the situation to the political repression experienced during military rule and urged Nigerians to speak out against injustice regardless of ethnic or political affiliations.
Falana also revisited the restructuring debate, arguing that while some level of decentralisation had occurred, it largely favoured the political elite. He noted that Nigeria’s governance structure had become increasingly centralised under the 1999 Constitution, with more powers concentrated at the federal level.
He added that although certain responsibilities such as electricity, railways, and prisons had been moved from the Exclusive Legislative List, many states had failed to fully utilise these powers.
Other speakers at the event, including labour leaders and activists, echoed concerns about governance, insecurity, and economic inequality, calling for collective action to safeguard democracy and promote accountability in Nigeria.
