Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a fundamental review of Nigeria’s democratic system, arguing that the Western liberal model adopted by many African countries has failed to reflect the continent’s history, culture and values.
Obasanjo spoke on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue held in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital.
The former President, who chaired the dialogue themed, “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?”, said African countries should develop democratic systems that reflected their peculiar circumstances rather than blindly replicating Western models.
According to him, the democracy currently practised in Nigeria lacks sufficient African context and content, making it difficult to address some of the political challenges confronting the country.
Obasanjo said, “The democracy we practise has no African context, no African content, and if you try to use what is not meant for you to serve your purpose, it is like a dress for which you are not measured.”
He particularly criticised the winner-takes-all nature of Nigeria’s political system, saying the first-past-the-post arrangement had created a situation where political opponents viewed one another as enemies rather than partners in governance.
He said a candidate could win an election by a single vote and subsequently exercise virtually total control, leaving the losing side with little influence.
“In practice, we have winner takes all, first past the post. If you beat me by one vote, then you take it all and whatever I have does not matter,” he said.
Obasanjo argued that the system had also made the concept of a loyal opposition difficult to sustain, as political disagreements were frequently interpreted as outright hostility.
“So, what do you do with your enemy? You crush him and destroy him, and that is what we have,” the former President said.
He urged African countries not to be afraid to reconsider the democratic systems inherited from colonial powers, noting that even Western countries were reviewing aspects of their own political arrangements.
Obasanjo said any alternative democratic model should take into account Africa’s history, culture, values and diversity.
“Call it what you like, just make sure it has history, culture and values that are African. You can call it democracy if you like, you can call it African democracy,” he said.
The former President also stressed the importance of preserving Nigeria’s diversity, warning that attempts to undermine the country’s different ethnic, cultural and regional identities could threaten national cohesion.
He said Nigeria’s diversity remained a fundamental component of its identity and should be deliberately nurtured under any political system.
Obasanjo also expressed concern over the increasing influence of money and inducements in Nigerian politics, saying the trend had risen “by leaps and bounds.”
He further lamented the limited representation of women in Nigerian politics, noting that no woman had been elected governor in the country since the beginning of the Fourth Republic more than two decades ago.
Meanwhile, the former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, also criticised the state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Obi alleged that some academics, lawmakers, lawyers, religious leaders and judicial officers had contributed to the deterioration of the country’s democratic system.
He recalled his experience of challenging an election result at the Court of Appeal, saying the judges who heard his case were unknown to him but delivered judgment in his favour.
Obi alleged that electoral laws had subsequently been weakened and criticised what he described as the involvement of influential lawyers and other professionals in defending questionable political practices.
He also accused some religious leaders of offering support to politicians facing allegations of wrongdoing, while expressing concern over the perceived politicisation of the judiciary.
The dialogue also featured the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman, who urged politicians preparing for the 2027 elections to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan’s conduct during the 2015 presidential election.
Usman said Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat to Muhammadu Buhari before the final results were fully announced helped Nigeria avoid a major political crisis.
She urged political actors to place national interest above personal ambition and avoid inflammatory rhetoric capable of threatening the country’s democratic stability.
The event was attended by Jonathan, former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang and other political leaders, constitutional experts and civil society representatives.
