Popular Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has clarified that he has never publicly endorsed any politician or political party, saying his advocacy has always centred on encouraging Nigerians to participate actively in elections.
The award-winning entertainer made the clarification while speaking on the need for greater civic participation ahead of future elections.
According to Falz, although he consistently urged Nigerians to register, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote, he has never openly campaigned for or supported any political party or candidate.
He explained that his primary goal has always been to promote a credible democratic process where citizens freely choose their leaders through the ballot box.
“Just a point of correction: I’ve never, in 2023 or at any point, openly supported any politician or political party. I’ve only actively encouraged people to go out to vote and get their intentions known,” he said.
Calls for Stronger Democracy
Falz said his position is driven by a desire to see Nigeria build a stronger democracy through credible elections and increased voter participation.
He stressed that Nigerians must be allowed to express their choices freely without manipulation or interference.
“What I clamor for is a free and fair democratic process, that people let their intentions be known, and that people go out to vote. These, I think, are very important to strengthen our democracy in this country,” he added.
Over the years, the rapper has been outspoken on issues relating to good governance, accountability, human rights and electoral reforms, often using his platform to advocate for greater civic engagement.
‘Same Crop of Politicians Keep Reshuffling’
Explaining why he has avoided publicly supporting politicians, Falz said he believes Nigeria’s political class has largely remained the same, with familiar faces rotating through different political offices.
According to him, this has made it difficult for him to confidently endorse any politician.
“I’ve never actually stuck out my neck for any politician for obvious reasons. We’ve been going in cycles, and it just seems like almost the same crop of people we keep on reshuffling. At the end of the day, it’s tough to even sit anywhere and vouch for a Nigerian politician in 2026,” he said.
Open to Supporting the Right Candidate
Despite his reservations, Falz said he has not ruled out endorsing a politician in the future.
He explained that he would be willing to publicly support a candidate if he became convinced of the person’s integrity, competence and vision for the country.
“If I see someone that I feel 100 per cent is the one, maybe I would. But as it stands, I’m just trying to be cautious. I’m trying not to outrightly stick out my neck for anyone,” he stated.
‘Votes Matter’
The rapper also dismissed the belief held by some Nigerians that votes do not count during elections.
According to him, the widespread allegations of vote-buying demonstrate that politicians understand the value of every vote.
“If it didn’t matter, there wouldn’t be vote-buying if it didn’t matter,” he said.
Falz urged Nigerians, especially young people, not to lose faith in the electoral process despite past disappointments.
He argued that higher voter turnout would make it more difficult for politicians to manipulate election outcomes.
Calls for Electronic Transmission of Results
Falz also renewed his call for the full implementation of live electronic transmission of election results to improve transparency and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
He questioned why Nigeria has yet to fully adopt real-time electronic transmission despite the significant resources committed to conducting elections.
According to him, technology should be deployed to minimise manipulation and enhance the credibility of the electoral process.
Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, the rapper said the experience should encourage Nigerians to participate more actively in future polls.
He maintained that overwhelming voter turnout would make large-scale electoral fraud increasingly difficult.
“If there is an overwhelming majority, it would be incredibly difficult for them to cheat that,” Falz said.
