•Nigeria remains a secular state — Christian group

•Those with Islamist tendencies should have no business in leadership — Middle Belt Forum

Popular lawyer and unrepentant human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, says Nigeria’s electoral process is a “hollow ritual” that masquerades as democracy.

According to him, Nigerian citizens do not have the genuine power to determine leadership outcomes.

Farotimi spoke at the weekend in his lecture delivered during the Christian Consultative Assembly organised by the Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) with the theme, “2027 Election: What Are the Options?”

He called on Nigerians to confront the realities of the political system before debating electoral choices for 2027.

Farotimi believed that the absence of the rule of law and equality before the law has undermined the concept of citizenship in Nigeria.

He said discussions about electoral options give the impression that citizens have genuine agency, but warned that low voter turnout fuels manipulation.

The activist who reeled out statistics from the 2023 general elections, held that out of about 90 million registered voters, barely 20 million participated.

Farotimi said, “When you speak about elections, the dictionary will tell you that it is the formal organised choice by vote for a position or office. But if we must be sincere with ourselves, the least we can do is to admit that we do not have elections in Nigeria.

“Citizens vote and their votes count. But what we have is a system where people snatch power, grab it, run with it and manage it. That is not democracy. You are being asked about options as if you have a choice. The unfortunate news is that you do not have such rights as things stand today."

While citing Nigeria’s entrenched political structure, Farotimi argued that governance is shaped by bad ideas rooted in feudal systems that entrench inequality and limit social mobility.

The legal practitioner, however, said peaceful change is still possible through the ballot, provided citizens organise around shared ideas and issues rather than personalities, ethnicity, or religion.

He called on Nigerians to focus on universal issues such as education, security, and justice, noting that these challenges cut across ethnic and religious lines.

“The only way to change Nigeria peacefully is still through the electoral process, even though you are entering a game that starts against you.

“The Christian child desires a good education just like the Muslim child. The Muslim desires security just like the Christian. These are common issues,” Farotimi said.

The Convener of the CSMN Bosun Emmanuel, called for Christians to focus on defending Nigeria’s secular constitution, warning against attempts to impose Christian canon law.

He recalled his participation at the 2014 National Conference, and the controversies on the proposals for ecclesiastical courts.

“The constitution should not have any religion. The state is secular, and it must remain so. Any effort to insert canon law opens the door to Sharia or similar laws in other states", Emmanuel said.

He also called on Christians to address internal disunity, adding that doctrinal differences and subtle rivalries within the church have weakened their collective voice.

The Spokesperson of the Middle Belt Forum, Luka Binniyat, highlighted the historical marginalisation of Middle Belt Christians and emphasised the need to strategically safeguard political representation.

Binniyat argued that voting decisions should prioritise candidates who protect religious freedom and human rights for all citizens, warning against leaders with Islamist tendencies.

“We cannot wait passively for 2027. The afflictions of Nigerians are common and urgent. We must act now to build coalitions that reflect our values and protect our interests", he emphasised.

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