Popular Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana, widely known as Falz, has clarified that he has never publicly endorsed any politician or political party, saying he prefers to remain neutral while advocating for a stronger democratic process.
Speaking about civic participation ahead of future elections, the award-winning entertainer said his focus has always been on encouraging Nigerians to exercise their voting rights rather than campaigning for any political candidate.
Falz stressed that his message has consistently been about promoting voter participation and ensuring citizens make their voices heard through the ballot.
“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.
According to him, strengthening Nigeria’s democracy requires a free, fair, and transparent electoral process where every eligible voter participates.
He noted that his reluctance to endorse political figures stems from his lack of confidence in the country’s political class, which he believes has remained largely unchanged over the years.
“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,” Falz said.
Despite his reservations, the rapper said he is not entirely opposed to endorsing a candidate in the future if someone earns his complete trust.
“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.
Falz also rejected claims that votes do not count during elections, arguing that widespread vote-buying is evidence that electoral outcomes matter.
He urged Nigerians, especially young people, to reject voter apathy and actively participate in elections, insisting that higher voter turnout would make electoral manipulation more difficult.
The activist further advocated for the live electronic transmission of election results, saying it would improve transparency and boost public confidence in the electoral process. He questioned why Nigeria has yet to fully implement real-time result transmission despite the significant resources allocated to conducting elections.
Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Falz said the biggest lesson was the need for greater voter participation, arguing that an overwhelming turnout would make it far more difficult to undermine the will of the people.
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