Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has warned that Nigeria may end up with only one presidential candidate in the 2027 election if judicial interference in political party affairs continues.
He gave the warning on Thursday in Lagos at the fifth Comrade Yinka Odumakin Memorial Lecture.
Falana said repeated court cases and conflicting rulings on party leadership are weakening internal democracy.
He added that the trend could reduce real competition in future elections.
Falana said, “Through the manipulation of Nigerian courts and senior lawyers, you may have only one candidate contesting the presidential election in this country.
If that happens, Nigeria may not even need to spend money on a presidential election.”
He spoke against the backdrop of ongoing disputes within political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently said it would not recognise rival factions following a Court of Appeal ruling.
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Falana criticised what he described as growing judicial involvement in party matters, despite legal limits on such interference.
He warned that weakening political competition could create tension in the country.
“We must stop agonising and start organising in the interest of our people and democracy,” he said.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, also raised concern, saying Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party system.
He said political actors were using institutions to silence opposition.
Adams said, “We are moving towards a one-party system. Those in power are using the judiciary to suppress the will of the people. We may end up having only one presidential candidate in Nigeria if care is not taken.”
He urged Nigerians to defend democracy and speak out against injustice.