2027 Debate Intensifies: Nigeria doesn’t conduct real elections – Farotimi

2026-03-15 - 18:57

By Luminous Jannamike ABUJA – National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Barrister Dele Farotimi, has alleged that Nigeria does not conduct genuine elections, warning that the country’s political system leaves citizens with little real power to determine who governs them. His remarks come as conversations about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system continue to grow ahead of the 2027 Nigerian general election, with speakers at a Christian political forum urging Nigerians to organise around shared national concerns if they hope to see meaningful change. Farotimi spoke alongside Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, Executive Secretary of the Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN), and Luka Binniyat, spokesman of the Middle Belt Forum, during a Christian Consultative Assembly organised over the weekend by CSMN via Zoom. The remarks reflected Farotimi’s assessment of Nigeria’s political and electoral system during the discussion. He then delivered the blunt conclusion. “It therefore behoves me to state clearly that you do not have elections in Nigeria, and you truly need to stop lying to yourselves, especially since this is a gathering of Christians. Christians are meant to be servants of truth, because the living God is the God of truth. What we have is a hollow ritual that pretends to be an election,” Farotimi said. He warned that talking about political ‘options’ may not mean much if the system itself does not allow citizens to truly determine outcomes. “To talk about options suggests that something may genuinely be chosen. It suggests that you have agency over your choice. The unfortunate news I bring this afternoon is that you do not have such rights. You do not have those options as things stand today. “The reality is that you are not citizens. Citizens vote, or at the very least take for granted that their votes will count, because they are citizens. A citizen is a subject of the law of the country... where Mr A, B, C, D and whoever else are treated exactly the same in the eyes of the law. That is a place ruled by law.” Farotimi also linked Nigeria’s political difficulties to what he described as a flawed foundational idea that has shaped the country’s governance. “A bad idea rules Nigeria. A very bad idea founded Nigeria, structured it, and that bad idea has ruled it up to this point. That bad idea is rooted in feudalism layered on top of religion. “That is why our votes were not counted in 2023. And that is why you have a National Assembly that is so resoundingly ‘ineffective’,” he claimed. Despite his criticism, Farotimi said peaceful change is still possible if citizens organise and participate strategically. “There is only one way to change Nigeria peacefully. It is still through the electoral process, even though the electoral processes themselves are not properly organised. Organise yourselves around ideas, not personalities or purposes. “The Christian child desires good education just as much as the Muslim child. The Muslim desires security just as much as the Christian,” he advised. Farotimi also pointed to low voter turnout as one factor that makes manipulation easier. “Even by INEC’s own figures, we had about 90 million registered voters in the last election, yet barely 20 million actually voted. The only way to defeat that is through organisation.” Binniyat, speaking from the perspective of the Middle Belt, said religion has historically influenced politics in many parts of the world. “When it comes to politics, religion is a very important factor all over the world,” he said. He explained that communities in the Middle Belt historically fought for political autonomy within the former Northern Region. “When Nigeria was preparing for independence, while other regions were competing for power, the Middle Belt was struggling for freedom from the domination of the Fulani emirate system.” Binniyat added that alliances between regions could shape future elections. “If the Middle Belt and the South work together politically, the numbers are strong enough to win a national election. We need a president who will take seriously the interests of every citizen in this country,” he said. Participants at the forum also asked questions about unity within the Christian community and how religious groups can contribute to addressing Nigeria’s political challenges. Responding, Farotimi said Nigerians across the country share many common struggles and could work together if they organise around shared ideas. “Across the length and breadth of the country, you will find people who are willing to work together if they see the strength and sincerity of your ideas. “It will not be easy. I am not wearing rose-tinted glasses. It will not be a walk in the park. But that is not a reason not to try,” he stated. Earlier, Emmanuel explained that the Christian Social Movement of Nigeria was created to encourage Christians to participate more actively in governance and public affairs. “The Nigerian church has two major arms: the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Christian Social Movement of Nigeria,” he said. He said while the Christian Association of Nigeria focuses on Christian unity, CSMN was established in 2000 to mobilise Christians around social and political issues. “We are committed to helping build a new mindset... If we can organise and harmonise that community effectively, meaningful change can occur,” the cleric added.