Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has warned against voter suppression and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that no eligible Nigerian should be prevented from exercising their right to vote on the basis of ethnicity or political affiliation.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Falana spoke at a public event in a video shared by News Central TV on Monday, where he expressed concern that violence could be deployed to intimidate voters and prevent them from participating in the elections.
He, therefore, called on political parties and candidates, especially in Lagos State, to unite in defending the votes of all eligible voters, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds or political affiliations.
He urged candidates across political parties to work together to protect the democratic rights of Nigerians, warning that the experience of the last election suggested that some voters could be denied the opportunity to cast their ballots in 2027.
“Let me now warn the candidates. Going by what happened during the last election, violence will be introduced. Many people will not be allowed to vote, unless you guys are ready to form, regardless of your political parties, to form a group that will defend the vote of everybody in Lagos,” he said.
Falana condemned attempts to use ethnic identity to determine who should be allowed to vote, particularly in Lagos, where some residents may be targeted because they are perceived as not belonging to the Yoruba ethnic group.
“We didn’t fight for this rickety democracy, that somebody will look at your face: ‘Oh, you should not vote in this country,’” he said.
The human rights lawyer urged political actors to reject ethnic discrimination and intimidation, stressing that the right to vote must be protected irrespective of a person’s appearance or place of origin.
He also warned that politicians who lack the support needed to win elections could resort to violence and thuggery to frustrate the electoral process.
“And I want to beg you, if you are ready to defend the vote of everybody, and it’s very important, because those who cannot win elections, resort to violence, thuggery, where you come from, that you don’t look like a Yoruba man, therefore you must not vote. In Lagos, in Nigeria, that must not be allowed,” Falana said.
He called for collective action by political candidates and their supporters to ensure that every eligible voter can participate freely and peacefully in the 2027 elections.
