Human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi has argued that Nigeria has never practiced genuine democracy, describing the country's system as a mere "performative shadow."
Speaking on News Central Television, Farotimi criticized Nigeria's electoral process and judiciary, specifically pointing to the controversial political ascendance of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as evidence of systemic failure.
Farotimi cautioned that Nigerians focus too heavily on the presidency while ignoring deeper structural flaws. He claimed that figures like Akpabio and Lawan were legally disqualified under the Electoral Act, yet secured their seats through judicial endorsement.
Accusing the judiciary of abandoning its role as an impartial arbiter, Farotimi stated that the courts have been reduced to tools for legitimizing unlawful political actions. "They do it first, and then they find a way for the judiciary to ratify what is already done," he remarked.