2023 presidency: The highest spender, will win - Afe Babalola

Afe Babalola, a leading legal luminary, predicted that Nigeria's upcoming presidential election on February 25 will be won by the highest spender, not the best candidates.

Babalola stated this during a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.

He expressed concern that the 2023 general elections will be held in accordance with the 1999 constitution, despite his advice, and that the poll will only reproduce those who have brought Nigeria to its current state.

"It is not who can make a difference that will win this election; I repeat, it is not the person who has everything it takes - age, health, education, and patriotism - that will win the election; the winner of this election, I can bet, will be the person who has made money in this country," he said.

"The person with the most money will win," the legal icon added.

According to Babalola, former President Olusegun Obasanjo's recent endorsement of Peter Obi of the Labour Party does not take into account the role money bags will play in the election.

Only a new constitution with stringent requirements for political candidates will save Nigeria from total collapse, according to him.

"A man who wants to rule the entire country or any part of the country should be screened," Babalola added. Has he ever worked before, what type of work did he do, did he steal there, was he a good manager, does he pay his taxes on time, and what contributions to society has he made?

"You cannot just come from nowhere and become president, become governor, become member of house; these are transactional business men.

"I continue to believe that any election held under the current 1999 Constitution cannot and will not produce new leaders with new ideas; rather, any election held under the 1999 Constitution will merely recycle people who have brought Nigeria to grinding poverty, unemployment, under-funded education, and insecurity," he said.