Falana Says Electoral Law Changes Must Be Backed by Action, Not Just Paperwork

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has warned that recent changes to Nigeria’s electoral laws won’t improve the country’s elections unless authorities take steps to enforce them effectively. He argued that updating rules on paper means little if there’s no real effort to implement those rules during elections.

Falana said that without proper enforcement mechanisms, amendments to the electoral act risk being symbolic rather than transformative. He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other institutions to ensure that the new regulations are applied consistently and fairly.

In his comments, Falana also stressed the need for strong political will and institutional reform to make sure that electoral law changes result in credible elections. He urged legal and civil society stakeholders to push for systems that don’t just look good on paper but actually protect voters’ rights and strengthen democratic processes.

Falana’s remarks highlight ongoing concerns about election integrity and the gap between legislative reforms and real-world outcomes.