Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has argued that Nigeria remains under civil rule rather than a truly democratic system, despite 27 years of uninterrupted civilian governance.
Speaking virtually at the Second Annual General Meeting of Amnesty International Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday, Falana said periodic elections alone do not amount to democracy when citizens continue to grapple with poverty, insecurity, injustice and weak institutions.
The rights activist warned that public confidence in constitutional governance could continue to decline unless democratic institutions begin to deliver meaningful benefits to ordinary Nigerians.
While rejecting suggestions that military rule could provide a solution to the country’s challenges, Falana maintained that Nigeria has yet to realise the democratic ideals for which many citizens struggled and made sacrifices.
“Military rule is not better than democracy regardless of the frustrations people may have. But we must also be honest enough to admit that what we currently have is largely civil rule and not the full expression of democracy that Nigerians fought and sacrificed for,” he said.
Falana stressed that the real measure of democracy lies not in the conduct of elections alone, but in the ability of government institutions to guarantee justice, accountability, human rights, security, quality education, healthcare and economic opportunities.
According to him, constitutional guarantees have remained largely unfulfilled for millions of Nigerians, creating a widening gap between democratic expectations and the realities of everyday life.
His remarks come amid growing public concern over economic hardship, insecurity, governance challenges and declining trust in public institutions despite more than two decades of uninterrupted civilian administration.
Falana cautioned that democracy could lose its legitimacy in the eyes of citizens if elected governments fail to translate constitutional promises into tangible improvements in living conditions.
He urged political leaders to prioritise institutional reforms, accountability and people-centred governance, warning that Nigeria risks operating a civilian system that lacks the core values of a genuine democracy.
Earlier, Amnesty International Nigeria Board Chairman, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, highlighted the organisation’s achievements over the past year, describing it as a period marked by significant interventions and advocacy efforts.
Rafsanjani cited Amnesty International’s investigation into the Tiger Base anti-kidnapping police unit in Owerri, Imo State, as one of the organisation’s most impactful undertakings.
According to him, the investigation uncovered widespread human rights violations, including prolonged arbitrary detention, torture, extortion and enforced disappearances.
He disclosed that the report documented at least 200 deaths and disappearances linked to the facility between 2021 and 2025, underscoring the need for greater accountability within law enforcement institutions.
