Falana to FG: What Nigeria Must Do Before Leading Anti-Coup Campaign In West Africa

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has warned that Nigeria cannot credibly champion anti-coup efforts in West Africa without first resolving the internal problems that undermine political stability at home.

Falana made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview, as the region continues to battle a resurgence of military takeovers.

According to him, Nigeria must urgently tackle the socioeconomic and political conditions that breed unrest.
“If we want political stability in Nigeria, we must address the economic crisis, tackle poverty, combat illiteracy, and curb insecurity,” he said.

The rights advocate also criticised what he described as the shrinking civic space and the criminalisation of dissent.
“You cannot continue shrinking the political space as we have now. There must be freedom of expression. You cannot be charging people with all manner of offences simply for commenting on national affairs,” he stated.

Falana further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to widen political participation by registering more ideological parties capable of challenging the status quo.
“At the moment, INEC is not prepared to do this,” he added.

He argued that many Nigerians are increasingly dissatisfied with current policies and said African democratic leaders often weaken political pluralism by suppressing opposition parties.
“You cannot be drifting towards a one-party state and still claim to be exporting democracy. Nigeria must put its house in order if it wants to promote pluralism,” he warned.

On the possibility of further coups in the region, Falana said the trend is likely to continue as long as opposition leaders are persecuted.
“It will not be the last. Once you jail, exile, or kill opposition leaders, you cannot have political stability,” he said.

His comments follow Sunday’s failed coup attempt in the Benin Republic, where soldiers led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri briefly seized the state television station in Cotonou and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon. The attempted takeover was suppressed within hours by Nigerian troops and the ECOWAS standby force.

Authorities in Benin confirmed several deaths, the arrest of at least 14 suspects, while Tigri remains at large. The coup plotters reportedly expressed grievances over security challenges, military promotions, and limitations on political freedoms ahead of the 2026 election.

The failed uprising has drawn strong condemnation from the African Union, United Nations, European Union and ECOWAS.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to Benin Republic as part of regional stabilisation efforts.