Popular Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana, widely known as Falz, has said he is open to supporting a politician in the future if he finds someone he can trust completely.
The award-winning entertainer, however, clarified that he has never publicly endorsed any politician or political party, insisting that his previous political advocacy was solely aimed at encouraging Nigerians to participate in the electoral process.
'I Have Never Endorsed Any Politician'
Speaking on the importance of civic participation ahead of future elections, Falz explained that his calls for Nigerians to register, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and vote should not be mistaken for political endorsements.
According to him, his consistent message has always been about strengthening democracy through active voter participation rather than campaigning for any candidate.
"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.
He stressed that his desire is to see Nigeria conduct free, fair and credible elections where citizens are allowed to freely choose their leaders.
"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," Falz added.
'The Same Crop of Politicians Keep Returning'
The rapper said he has deliberately avoided publicly identifying with any politician because he believes Nigeria's political class has continued to recycle the same individuals over the years.
According to him, the country's political landscape has made it difficult 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.
'I Could Endorse Someone in Future'
Despite his reservations, Falz did not rule out supporting a candidate in future elections.
He said he would only do so if he encountered a politician whose character, competence and vision convinced him beyond doubt.
"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'
Falz also rejected the widespread belief that votes do not count during elections.
According to him, the alleged practice of vote-buying by politicians is proof that every vote matters.
"If it didn't matter, there wouldn't be vote-buying if it didn't matter," he said.
He urged Nigerians, especially young people, not to become discouraged by past election experiences but to continue participating in the democratic process.
Calls for Electronic Transmission of Results
The activist also renewed his call for the full implementation of live electronic transmission of election results, arguing that it would improve transparency and reduce opportunities for electoral manipulation.
He questioned why Nigeria had not fully adopted real-time result transmission despite the huge public funds spent on conducting elections.
Falz maintained that embracing technology would strengthen public confidence in the electoral system and make it harder to manipulate election outcomes.
Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, the rapper said Nigerians should focus on increasing voter turnout in future polls.
According to him, overwhelming participation at polling units would make it significantly more difficult for anyone to manipulate election results.
"If there is an overwhelming majority, it would be incredibly difficult for them to cheat that," he concluded.