By Ayanleye Rodiat
ABEOKUTA – Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s electoral system, saying credible elections remain the foundation of good governance, accountability and national development.
Falana made the call on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the 8th Annual Anniversary Lecture of Penpushing Media held at the Marquee Events Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta.
The lecture was themed, “Restoring Electoral Integrity: The Path to Good Governance and Public Accountability.”
The event was attended by prominent personalities, including retired Court of Appeal Justice Oladeinde Shoremi, who served as the Father of the Day; Executive Director and Co-founder of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Mother of the Day; and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Tunde Lemo, who chaired the occasion.
In his address, Falana argued that Nigeria’s democracy continues to face serious threats from corruption, vote-buying, judicial compromise and the monetization of politics.
He alleged that some politicians influence judicial outcomes by bribing judges and urged legal practitioners to stop defending judicial corruption, stressing that an independent judiciary is essential to credible elections.
The senior lawyer also criticized the activities of political parties, describing many of them as lacking internal democracy.
He expressed concern over the high cost of nomination forms and party primaries, noting that aspirants spend huge sums to secure party tickets, a development he said fuels corruption and weakens the democratic process.
According to him, manipulating election results, vote-buying and other electoral offences remain criminal acts under the Electoral Act and should be prosecuted without fear or favor.
He questioned situations where political parties are prevented from participating in elections, insisting that democracy should guarantee equal opportunities for all qualified contestants.
Falana linked electoral integrity with good governance, saying governments that emerge through free and fair elections are more likely to be accountable to the people.
He lamented the increasing level of poverty in the country despite Nigeria’s abundant resources and called on public office holders to prioritise citizens’ welfare through quality education, security and effective social investment programmes.
Speaking on anti-corruption efforts, he urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure greater transparency in the management of recovered public funds and called on government institutions to uphold accountability in the use of public resources.
He further challenged citizens, the media and civil society organizations to remain actively involved in promoting transparency and holding leaders accountable, noting that restoring electoral integrity is a collective responsibility.
Earlier, Penpushing Media founder Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji welcomed guests and described the anniversary lecture as part of the organization’s commitment to promoting informed public discourse on issues affecting Nigeria’s democracy and development.
The annual lecture brought together legal practitioners, government officials, academics, media professionals, civil society organisations, students and members of the public to deliberate on practical solutions for strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process and deepening democratic governance.
