Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the growing role of the judiciary in determining election outcomes in Nigeria, questioning the democratic legitimacy of situations where the votes of millions of citizens are ultimately decided by a small panel of judges.
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Obasanjo spoke on Tuesday while chairing the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre in Bauchi.
The dialogue, themed “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and Judiciary Save African Democracy?”, brought together political leaders, former public office holders, scholars and democracy advocates from Nigeria and other African countries.
Obasanjo argued that democracy should principally reflect the choices made by citizens at the ballot box and questioned a system in which judicial decisions could ultimately determine electoral outcomes after millions of people had voted.
“If millions of people have voted and five people would form a decision either in favour or against the decision of millions of people, is that democracy?” he asked.
The former president also raised questions about judicial independence, asking whether courts were sufficiently insulated from governmental and political influence.
According to him, the situation raised broader concerns about the quality of democracy in Nigeria and across Africa, particularly where democratic institutions fail to deliver good governance and improved living standards.
Obasanjo said a functioning democracy must guarantee the welfare and wellbeing of citizens, inclusiveness, equality, a sense of belonging, protection of lives and property, while also addressing marginalisation and discrimination.
“Democracy that works must deliver the dividends of democracy,” he said.
He equally questioned whether political parties were effectively performing the role expected of them in sustaining democratic governance.
“Can the political parties deliver, or are they delivering? These are the questions the dialogue needs to answer,” he said.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his contribution, called on African countries to reconsider the democratic systems they inherited and develop models that reflect the continent’s history, culture and political realities while preserving the core principles of justice, equality, human rights, accountability and credible elections.
Jonathan suggested that aspects of Switzerland’s system of government could offer useful lessons for some African countries, particularly in limiting the excessive concentration of political power in one individual.
“At the top level of the presidency, perhaps the Swiss model, where you don’t have one powerful president, may be the best for some African countries,” he said.
He explained that executive authority under the Swiss model is exercised collectively rather than concentrated in one individual, thereby making it more difficult for a single leader to take major decisions without consultation.
“I remember when I was Vice President, I once said that their forefathers believed that when one person has so much power, it is dangerous to society,” Jonathan recalled.
He warned that concentrating enormous political authority in one individual could weaken democratic institutions and undermine accountability.
Jonathan also cautioned against defining democracy merely by the conduct of periodic elections, stressing that elections constituted only one part of a properly functioning democratic system.
Citing the 2024 Afrobarometer survey covering 39 African countries, he said more than 70 per cent of respondents expressed a preference for democracy, even though satisfaction with how democracy was being practised remained significantly lower in many countries.
“This clearly shows that there is something fundamentally wrong with our democracy,” he said.
Jonathan maintained that democracy must guarantee fairness, justice and equal treatment while providing citizens with the opportunity to freely choose their leaders and participate meaningfully in the political process.
“If that is lacking in a country, then, of course, there is no democracy there,” he said.
He also called for an independent judiciary free from executive interference and urged governments to ensure that legislatures had sufficient independence to effectively perform their oversight responsibilities.
Jonathan acknowledged, however, that absolute separation between the executive and legislature could be difficult where members of both arms of government belonged to the same political party.
The former president identified the protection of fundamental human rights as another essential component of democracy, citing freedom of speech, religion, assembly and the press.
“If citizens are gagged, if the civic space is choked by the executive, then, of course, there is no democracy,” he said.
He further stressed the need for accountability, transparency and credible elections, saying elected leaders must remain answerable to citizens while open governance was necessary to strengthen public confidence and reduce corruption.
Jonathan recalled that his administration signed the Freedom of Information Bill into law to empower citizens to seek information about government activities.
“The law allows you to ask questions. And if they don’t provide the information, they are culpable,” he said.
He added that elections must be conducted freely and credibly without intimidation, manipulation or undue interference, noting that credible elections enable citizens to choose their leaders and hold them accountable.
Jonathan also identified political pluralism as an important pillar of democracy, urging governments to accommodate multiple political parties, divergent opinions and opposing viewpoints.
He said minority voices must be protected and allowed to participate meaningfully in public discourse, stressing that the freedom to hold and express differing views remained essential to a healthy democratic system.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who hosted the event, described the dialogue as an important platform for examining democratic governance in Nigeria and across Africa.
He commended the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation for selecting Bauchi as the host state and praised Jonathan for his contributions to democracy, good governance and peaceful political transitions.
Mohammed said the theme of the dialogue was timely, stressing that democracy should not be reduced solely to elections.
“Elections are essential, but democracy goes beyond the casting of ballots. It requires strong institutions, accountable leadership, respect for the rule of law, independent democratic institutions, a vibrant media, inclusive political participation and effective governance that delivers tangible benefits to citizens,” he said.
The governor identified socioeconomic pressures, technological disruptions, insecurity, institutional weaknesses and growing public dissatisfaction as major challenges confronting democratic systems across Africa.
He urged political leaders and citizens to strengthen democratic institutions and build systems capable of responding effectively to the needs of the population.
According to him, citizens expect democratic governments to provide security, quality education and healthcare, infrastructure, employment opportunities and an enabling economic environment, particularly for young people and women.
“For us in Bauchi State, we believe that democracy must translate into improved living conditions for our people. It must create opportunities, promote social justice, strengthen institutions and give citizens a genuine sense of belonging,” Mohammed said.
He assured participants that his administration would continue to promote inclusive governance, human capital development and programmes aimed at improving the welfare of residents.
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