Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of misinterpreting a court of appeal ruling to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Falana spoke during the fifth public lecture held in honour of late activist Yinka Odumakin.
He said INEC wrongly relied on the court order on status quo ante bellum to withdraw recognition of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership.
According to him, the order simply means parties should return to the position that existed before the case was filed.
“The order is to maintain status quo ante bellum — the position before the dispute. But it has been misinterpreted to favour the ruling party,” he said.
The senior lawyer criticised the commission for interfering in internal party matters, saying the law prohibits such actions.
“The law is clear that INEC must not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties,” he said.
He warned that the development reflects a broader pattern of weakening opposition parties through legal and institutional processes.
Falana also blamed the judiciary and senior lawyers for enabling what he described as abuse of legal processes.
“Our courts and senior lawyers are to blame for some of these distortions,” he said.
He expressed concern that continued manipulation of institutions could undermine Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
“At this rate, you may end up with only one candidate contesting elections,” he said.
Falana said similar patterns of suppressing opposition have been observed in some African countries, where opposition figures face arrests or legal challenges ahead of elections.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and organised in defending democratic values.
“We must organise and challenge forces that are making a mockery of the democracy we fought for,” he said.
