Lawyer and political activist Dele Farotimi has stated that Nigeria has never truly experienced democracy, arguing that what exists in the country is only a superficial version of it. He made the remarks during an interview on News Central Television.
Farotimi described Nigeria’s democratic process as a “performative shadow,” insisting that elections in the country amount to little more than a hollow ritual rather than a genuine expression of the people’s will.
He criticised the emergence of certain political office holders, alleging that individuals who had been indicted for wrongdoing still manage to occupy public positions. According to him, this reflects deeper systemic flaws in the country’s governance structure.
The activist cited the example of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Senate President Ahmed Lawan, claiming they were able to assume office despite what he described as disqualifying factors under the Electoral Act.
He argued that although the law appeared to bar their participation, they still emerged in the Senate, with court rulings ultimately affirming their positions. This, he said, raises concerns about the integrity of both the electoral and judicial processes.
Farotimi further alleged that Nigeria’s judiciary no longer functions as an impartial arbiter of justice, but instead validates decisions already made outside the legal framework. According to him, this trend undermines the rule of law and reduces the courts to instruments for justifying predetermined outcomes.
Elijah Adeyemi
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