Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has warned that Nigeria cannot effectively lead regional efforts against military coups without first addressing internal socioeconomic and political challenges that fuel instability.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Falana said Nigeria must confront poverty, illiteracy, insecurity, and economic crises if it hopes to achieve political stability.

“If we want to have political stability in Nigeria, you must address the crisis of the economy, address poverty, tackle illiteracy, and curb insecurity of lives and property,” he stated.

Falana also stressed the need to protect civic freedoms, cautioning against shrinking political space and criminalizing dissent. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to widen participation by registering ideological political parties capable of challenging the status quo.

“Nigeria clearly has its job cut out. If you want to stop coups, you must allow political pluralism. You cannot have a situation where the country is moving towards a one-party state, and you want to export democracy,” he said.

The lawyer argued that credible elections depend on competitive opposition, warning that ruling parties across Africa often weaken rivals through restrictions, exile, or imprisonment. He predicted that more coups could occur if governments continue to suppress opposition leaders.

Falana’s remarks came in the wake of Sunday’s failed coup attempt in Benin Republic, where soldiers briefly seized the state television station in Cotonou and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon. The uprising was quashed within hours by Nigerian troops and the ECOWAS standby force, leaving several dead and at least 14 suspects arrested.

The African Union, United Nations, European Union, and ECOWAS condemned the coup, while the Nigerian Senate approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to Benin Republic.