Falz: I’ve Not Endorsed Any Politician, Nigerians Must Defend Democracy Through Their Votes

Popular Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana, widely known as Falz, has clarified that he has never publicly endorsed any politician or political party, stressing that his advocacy has always been focused on promoting voter participation and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.

Speaking on the importance of civic engagement ahead of future elections, the award-winning entertainer said his public campaigns have consistently encouraged Nigerians to exercise their civic rights by voting rather than supporting any particular candidate.

“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 make their intentions known,” Falz said.

‎He explained that his commitment has always been to advocate for free, fair and credible elections, noting that increased voter participation remains essential to deepening democracy in Nigeria.

‎”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 stated.

Falz said he has deliberately refrained from endorsing political figures because he believes Nigeria’s political landscape has remained largely dominated by the same individuals over the years.

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“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 reshuffling. At the end of the day, it’s tough to even sit anywhere and vouch for a Nigerian politician in 2026,” he said.

‎The rapper, however, maintained that he could reconsider his stance if he encountered a candidate he believed in without reservation.

‎”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 added.

‎Addressing concerns about electoral credibility, Falz rejected claims that votes do not count, arguing that the widespread practice of vote-buying demonstrates the importance of every ballot.

‎”If it didn’t matter, there wouldn’t be vote-buying if it didn’t matter,” he said, while urging Nigerians, particularly young people, to shun voter apathy and actively participate in elections.

‎Vanguard report that he also called for the full implementation of live electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a critical step toward improving transparency, accountability and public confidence in the electoral process.

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‎Questioning the slow pace of electoral reforms despite substantial public spending on elections, Falz said one of the major lessons from the 2023 general elections is the need for significantly higher voter turnout.

‎According to him, an overwhelming voter mandate would make it far more difficult to manipulate election outcomes, adding that greater citizen participation remains one of the strongest safeguards for Nigeria’s democracy.