Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has criticized the All Progressives Congress’s use of consensus arrangements for governorship primaries, particularly in Ogun State, describing the practice as a form of extortion that undermines democratic participation.
Speaking at a lecture in Abeokuta, Falana argued that electoral integrity cannot exist without transparent party primaries, saying consensus arrangements deny party members the right to freely choose their candidates even though the Electoral Act permits both direct and consensus methods. He also warned against deregistering political parties or blocking others from elections, saying political exclusion has historically encouraged undemocratic forces to undermine democratic institutions across Africa, and condemned the high cost of financing political campaigns, citing an allegation from the anti corruption agency’s chairman that some governorship aspirants spent between 20 and 30 billion naira during primaries alone.
