Obasanjo Critiques African Democracy at GEJ Dialogue

On Tuesday, former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo declared that Africa lacks genuine democracy, describing the existing system as a borrowed and forced liberal democracy imposed by colonial powers. He made these remarks during the 2026 edition of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Foundation Annual Democracy Dialogue, held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre in Bauchi.

As the chairman of the dialogue, Obasanjo acknowledged the theme, "Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?" He expressed concerns about the performance of democracy in Africa and noted that the concept of African democracy is misleading, as it is rooted in Western liberal democracy. He emphasized the importance of questioning the effectiveness of this system and the roles of political parties and the judiciary, stating that the current state of democracy in Africa requires urgent attention and reevaluation.