Nigerian rapper and activist Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has dismissed claims that he publicly supported Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, while criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration over what he described as its failure to improve Nigerians’ living conditions.
Falz said he had never endorsed any politician or political party, explaining that his role during the 2023 election was only to encourage citizens to participate in the voting process.
“Just a point of correction: I’ve never, in 2023 or at any point, openly supported any politician or political party,” Falz said during an interview with ARISE News.
“I’ve only actively encouraged people to go out to vote and get their intentions known. What I clamour for is a free and fair democratic process.”
The rapper said he had avoided publicly attaching himself to any politician because Nigeria’s political landscape had continued to feature familiar figures being recycled.
“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,” he said.
“It’s tough to even sit anywhere and vouch for a Nigerian politician in 2026. If I see someone that I feel 100 per cent is the one, maybe I would. But as it stands, I’m trying to be cautious.”
Commenting on Tinubu’s government, Falz said the administration had not given Nigerians enough reason to remain patient, pointing to inflation, poverty, insecurity and the rising cost of living as challenges affecting citizens.
“I think the current administration has not done enough for Nigerians to be patient with it,” he said.
“They might say all those things, but we can’t actually see it. We can’t feel it. If you ask the average person on the streets what they’re feeling, they’re feeling inflation, the rising cost of living, difficulties and poverty.
“People are suffering. It’s insecurity that we’re feeling. We’re not safe; we can’t go outside. That’s what we’re feeling.”
Falz added that the administration had not met expectations based on its own promises and questioned whether it had earned public support for another term.
“I think even by their own standards, they’ve failed,” Falz said, referring to what he described as the government’s unfulfilled commitments, including President Tinubu’s reported promise on electricity supply before assuming office.
