Dele Farotimi, human rights lawyer and civil rights activist, has emphasised that any coalition of opposition parties will be futile if the people fail to demand electoral reforms.

The call for electoral reforms in Nigeria has been gaining momentum, with many citizens and civil rights activists demanding a more transparent and accountable electoral process. 

Dele Farotimi, human rights lawyer and civil rights activist, has emphasised that any coalition of opposition parties will be futile if the people fail to demand electoral reforms.

"Every coalition of opposition will work in vain, if the people fail to demand electoral reforms. The system is rigged ab initio," Farotimi said. 

Featuring on Channels TV programme on State Of The Nation, the activist expressed skepticism about the willingness of the current government to implement reforms, given its alleged role in electoral hijacking.

"I think it will be not only simplistic but exceedingly foolish when you want to expect that All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be interested in an electoral reform that would ensure transparency in the electoral process. This is a government that is beneficial of an electoral hijack," he stated. 

Farotimi's concerns are rooted in his personal experience with the electoral process. 

"I was charged with the duty of collecting Form EC8A from INEC in Lagos State, and I can say without equivocation that the then INEC commissioner in Lagos State could not produce a single Form EC8A because the entire result in Lagos State was a fraud," he alleged.

According to Farotimi, the Nigerian people have the right to demand electoral reforms and should exercise that right by peaceful protests if necessary. 

"Power is not served; you grab it, snatch it, and you run with it. But it is the right of citizens to expect to be given the power to vote and decide who rules them," he said.

Farotimi's call for electoral reforms is not just about changing the electoral process but also about ensuring that citizens' voices are heard and respected. 

"We should be making that demand very clearly," he emphasised.

The demand for electoral reforms is a critical issue that requires the attention of all stakeholders, including citizens, civil society organisations, and government officials. 

As Farotimi noted, the Nigerian people are the victims of gross abuse of power and process, and it is their right to demand reforms.