Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that any leader who fails to perform should be voted out of office, provided that proper elections are conducted. He described electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, warning that unless stakeholders work together to rethink and reform democratic practices, democracy itself may collapse on the continent.
Jonathan made these remarks at the 2025 edition of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue, held in Accra, Ghana. According to a statement released on Saturday by the Foundation’s Communications Officer, Mr. Wealth Dickson Ominabo, the former President emphasized that when democracy fails to meet expectations, desperation can pave the way for authoritarianism. He urged leaders to commit to a form of democracy that ensures a great future for children, where their voices are heard and valued.
He noted, “Democracy on the African continent is going through a period of strain and risks collapse unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.” Jonathan argued that Africa needs to re-evaluate its democratic model to make it more effective for its people. “One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means,” he said. “If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.”
He added that citizens desire fundamental freedoms, to have their votes count, equitable representation, and inclusivity, as well as access to good education, healthcare, and jobs. “When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned,” Jonathan explained. He also spoke on the encouraging level of youth participation in governance but stressed that for them to succeed, they need the wisdom and experience of older people as guidance.
In his own address, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, along with other leaders and policymakers, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, called for a reevaluation of Africa’s democratic practices to ensure they deliver peace, accountability, and sustainable development. Mahama warned that democracy will not survive unless Africans actively work to protect and strengthen it. “We need a reset of democracy and governance to ensure accountability,” he said. “Our citizens are tired of corruption, misgovernance, and lack of opportunities.”
Mahama emphasized that to renew democracy, it is essential to strengthen institutions, deliver development, and educate citizens. He also highlighted the importance of a free press, calling it “democracy’s immune system.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the event, echoed these sentiments, stating that Africa’s current democratic practice is unsustainable and requires urgent reform. The democracy dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, among others, who all stressed that democracy in Africa must extend beyond mere elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
