By Atoyebi Nike
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana says Nigeria cannot champion regional democracy if it ignores internal conditions that trigger instability. He made the remark on Channels Television’s Politics Today as West Africa faces another cycle of coups.
Falana argued that true stability begins with confronting Nigeria’s socioeconomic realities.
“To achieve political stability, you must deal with the economy, poverty, illiteracy, and insecurity,” he said.
He warned that shrinking civic freedoms undermine democracy. According to him, authorities must stop treating dissent as a criminal act and allow criticism without intimidation.
Falana also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to broaden political participation. He said INEC restricts ideological parties and maintains a political environment that favours the status quo.
Many Nigerians, he noted, are frustrated by current policies, and African governments often weaken opposition forces. Falana insisted that Nigeria must reverse this trend if it hopes to deter coups on the continent.
“You cannot drift toward a one-party state and still claim to defend democracy,” he said. He added that credible elections depend on genuine competition and warned that governments across Africa often neutralize rivals through arrests, exile, or targeted repression.
On whether the region should expect more coups, Falana said the trend will continue where political pluralism is suppressed. He cited developments in the Republic of Benin, where soldiers led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri seized the state broadcaster on Sunday in an attempted coup before ECOWAS forces and Nigerian troops restored order.
Several people died in the clash, at least 14 suspects were arrested, and Tigri remains at large. The mutineers cited grievances over security, promotions, and political restrictions ahead of the 2026 election. Major international bodies, including the AU, UN, EU and ECOWAS, condemned the takeover attempt.
In a related move, the Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to the Republic of Benin.
