Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the model of democracy practised across much of Africa, saying it lacks African context and content and has created a winner-takes-all approach to politics.

Obasanjo said the Western liberal democracy inherited by many African countries was not designed around the continent’s realities, likening its adoption to wearing a dress that was not made to fit.

He argued that the model has created a political culture in which election winners often disregard those who lose.

The former president spoke on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital.

“The Western liberal democracy that we inherited pulls from monarchy, hence we can have government and loyal opposition, loyal to the monarchy. But when you talk about loyal opposition in an African setting and I have gone into many of African languages, opposition means enemy, that is the word. Then do you have a loyal enemy? So, what do you do with your enemy? You crush him and destroy him and that is what we have.

“The democracy we practice 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, you try to put it on, it is either too small for you or too big for you. It will not fit and it will not serve your purpose. In practice, we have winner takes all, first path post. If you beat me by one vote then you take it all and whatever I have does not matter,” Obasanjo said.

The former Nigerian leader also lamented what he described as poor management of diversity, warning against a democracy that completely disregards the importance of diversity.

He said diversity remained central to African and other societies and must be deliberately protected and nurtured.

“Nigeria is what it is because of our diversity. Remove diversity out of Nigeria you will probably have Republic of Oduduwa, that will not be Nigeria or Republic of Danfodio, that will not be Nigeria. That diversity must be nourished and be taken care of,” he said.

Obasanjo also decried the growing influence of money and other forms of inducement in politics, saying they had been increasing “by leaps and bounds.”

While acknowledging that widespread poverty and illiteracy do not help democracy, the former president also criticised gender imbalance in Nigerian politics since the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

“In Nigeria, you call this one fourth republic, we have not elected a female governor in more than 24 years. And yet the people we are electing, most of them lack character, the lack attributes and values that can endure and can uplift.”

On the way forward, Obasanjo said Nigeria needed more than simply borrowing political parties and judicial structures, stressing that democracy was a continuous process rather than a destination.

He said the countries from which African nations adopted Western liberal democracy were themselves reconsidering aspects of the system, questioning why Africans should not also reassess the model.

“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. In that case it will be African with African context and African content,” he said.

The dialogue, chaired by Obasanjo, was attended by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed hosted the event, which also brought together constitutional experts and civil society voices from across the continent.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has decried what he described as the erosion of democratic principles in Nigeria, saying the country is facing a crisis.

The former Anambra State governor spoke on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital, where he reflected on the state of democracy and governance in the country.

Obi recalled spending three years in court challenging his election as Anambra State governor, noting that judges he had never met previously delivered judgments in his favour.

He said such an experience would be difficult to replicate in Nigeria today.

“I was in court for three years challenging my election, five judges that I never met for one day gave judgement in my favour, it cannot happen in Nigeria of today. I went to Court of Appeal, five judges I never met gave judgement in my favour.

“So, if you look at that and look at what is happening today in Nigeria where professors are now aiding illiterates to rig elections, where our lawmakers have removed forgery as an offence in electoral matters, and Senior Advocates of Nigeria are defending forgery. Our religious leaders are now praying for criminal politicians for blessings. We have a crisis. And above all, our judges are now singing on your mandate,” Obi said.

He urged Nigerians to examine the direction of the country and question the state of its democratic institutions.

Obi said Nigerians must reject the normalisation of practices that undermine democracy, warning that their consequences could be inherited by future generations.

According to him, “We need to reverse this because the abuse we are allowing today will take its revenge on our children.”

This year’s GJF Democracy Dialogue is anchored on the question: “Beyond elections, can political parties and the judiciary save African democracy?”

The event was chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and attended by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed hosted the event, which also brought together constitutional experts and civil society voices from across the continent.

Outrage has trailed a viral video showing the lawmaker representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, instructing members of the All Progressives Congress to “kill” opposition supporters while condemning Accord Party in Ilesa, Osun State.

The federal lawmaker was addressing some of his supporters and APC members in Ilesa on Tuesday.

Speaking in Yoruba, Fadahunsi, one of the top campaigners of the APC candidate in the August 15, 2026 governorship poll, Bola Oyebamiji, dared the people at the gathering to video-record him and share it on social media.

He said, “If you see any of them from now on to the day of the election, kill them.”

His statement was met with loud cheers from his followers who wore APC fez caps.

Fadahunsi’s statement has since been condemned by many as inciting and anti-democratic.

Pelumi Olajengbesi, a spokesman for the campaign council of Governor Ademola Adeleke, slammed Fadahunsi for the vitriolic order to his followers.

Olajengbesi said, “This is a serious threat to lives and the peaceful conduct of the August 15 election.

“Mr. Inspector-General of Police, this must be addressed immediately. Nobody has the right to kill an Accord member or any citizen. Nobody has the right to stop Osun people from voting. Enough is enough!”

An Osun State indigene, Wale Akintoye, on Facebook, wrote, “Nigeria Police Force Osun CP won’t arrest this man now but will go after people of the opposition party.

“Has it got to this that openly a death sentence is passed by a senator? This is shameful. Politics is not a do-or-die affair, but leaders that are in position are calling for the killing of Osun people.”

Adenike Bekky said, “All because of politics, he seems to have forgotten that it was our votes that gave him the mandate and positioned him where he is today. Why should anyone be threatened or harmed simply because they chose not to decamp with you? Politics should never be a matter of life and death. We cannot all face the same direction, and political differences should never be a reason to threaten the lives of citizens.”

Also, Bukky Stephen said, “Even telling people to record him and send it out means he is above the law. Nigerian police should act on this if they are not biased.”