Without Electoral Reforms, Opposition Alliances Will Collapse, Citizens Must Take a Stand, Dele Farotimi Insists

 

The momentum for meaningful electoral reform in Nigeria is reaching a new peak, with citizens, activists, and civil society leaders raising their voices to demand a more credible democratic process. Among those taking a firm stance is Dele Farotimi, a prominent human rights lawyer and outspoken civil rights advocate, who has warned that any opposition effort will remain futile unless citizens first push for significant changes in the nation’s electoral system.

Appearing as a guest on the Channels Television programme State Of The Nation, Farotimi issued a scathing critique of the electoral structure, accusing it of being compromised from the start. He argued that unless Nigerians themselves begin to demand accountability and transparency in how elections are conducted, any political maneuvering by opposition parties will fail to make an impact.

He stated, “Every coalition of opposition will work in vain if the people fail to demand electoral reforms. The system is rigged ab initio.” This sentiment captures the growing frustration among Nigerians who feel alienated by a political system that appears resistant to change.

Farotimi’s skepticism about reform efforts under the current administration is grounded in what he described as the regime’s complicity in manipulating the electoral process. According to him, expecting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to pursue reforms that would undermine their grip on power is not only unrealistic but deeply naive.

“I think it will be not only simplistic but exceedingly foolish to expect that the APC government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be interested in an electoral reform that would ensure transparency in the electoral process,” Farotimi said during the broadcast. He further described the administration as a beneficiary of what he termed an “electoral hijack.”

Citing his personal experience as an electoral agent, Farotimi offered a chilling account of how the process was allegedly subverted in Lagos State during a past election. He revealed that while tasked with retrieving Form EC8A, a critical document that details election results from polling units, he discovered that the Lagos INEC office could not produce a single authentic copy.

“I was charged with the duty of collecting Form EC8A from INEC in Lagos State, and I can say without equivocation that the then INEC commissioner in Lagos State could not produce a single Form EC8A because the entire result in Lagos State was a fraud,” he claimed.

This revelation underscores broader concerns about institutional integrity and the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in safeguarding democratic values. For many observers, Farotimi’s remarks echo longstanding accusations of irregularities, vote suppression, and result manipulation that have plagued Nigerian elections for decades.

Calls for reform are not new, but the tone has shifted significantly. Rather than waiting for politicians or state institutions to initiate change, Farotimi believes the responsibility rests squarely with the people. He emphasized that Nigerian citizens have both the right and the duty to demand reforms and, if necessary, to take their calls to the streets through peaceful protests.

“Power is not served; you grab it, snatch it, and you run with it. But it is the right of citizens to expect to be given the power to vote and decide who rules them,” he stated firmly.

His call is more than just a plea for policy adjustments; it is a moral and civic challenge to Nigerians to rise and claim ownership of the democratic process. Farotimi believes that electoral reforms are the foundation upon which a functioning democracy must rest. Without them, he argues, any political alliance or election cycle is merely a show with predetermined outcomes.

Beyond political parties and governmental institutions, the responsibility to demand accountability falls on the shoulders of every Nigerian. Civil society organisations, student groups, market women, professionals, and youth movements all have a role to play in building pressure for electoral change.

The stakes could not be higher. Without reforms, the credibility of elections will remain in doubt, and the very legitimacy of those in power will continue to be contested. As Farotimi put it, “We should be making that demand very clearly.”

The road to reform is never easy. It requires sustained advocacy, strategic civic action, and unwavering public pressure. However, if Nigeria is to emerge as a genuine democracy where the ballot truly reflects the will of the people, the demand for change must come from those most affected by the current system — the citizens themselves.

This growing chorus for reform is not simply about correcting past wrongs. It is about laying the foundation for a political future where power flows from the people, not from the manipulation of systems and institutions. And according to voices like Farotimi’s, that future begins with action, not apathy.