Nigeria has never had genuine democracy - Farotimi

Political activist Dele Farotimi claims Nigeria has never experienced genuine democracy, describing it as merely a 'performative shadow' and elections as 'hollow rituals.' In a News Central Television interview, Farotimi cited specific examples of Godswill Akpabio and Ahmed Lawal who were disqualified by Electoral Act provisions but ended up in the Senate, with courts later endorsing their positions. He accused the judiciary of becoming 'an instrument for working from the answer to the question,' saying courts rationalize what should never have been done rather than adjudicating based on law and equity. This perspective represents one view in Nigeria's ongoing democratic discourse.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/03/nigeria-never-had-democracy-farotimi/