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Jonathan warns against electoral manipulation in Africa
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He says flawed democracy breeds authoritarianism
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Mahama, Obasanjo, others back urgent democratic reforms
Former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan has declared that any leader who fails to perform should be voted out of office through credible elections, warning that electoral manipulation remains one of the greatest threats to democracy in Africa.
Dr Jonathan spoke on Friday at the 2025 edition of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue in Accra, Ghana, where political leaders, policymakers, and civil society stakeholders gathered to examine the future of governance on the continent.
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In a statement signed by Mr Wealth Dickson Ominabo, Communications Officer of the Foundation, the former Nigerian President cautioned that unless African states urgently rethink and reform their democratic systems, the continent risks sliding into authoritarian rule.
“Democracy in Africa 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. 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,”Jonathan warned.
He stressed that citizens expect more than empty promises from leaders, saying: “Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education, security, access to healthcare, jobs, and dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
On youth participation in governance, Dr Jonathan welcomed the rising interest but insisted that success requires the wisdom of older leaders to guide them. “The youth are enthusiastic about leadership, but for them to succeed, they need the guidance and experience of the older generation,” he said.
Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and other African leaders also pressed for a democratic reset.
According to President Mahama, “Democracy will not survive if we don’t work for it. Our citizens are tired of corruption, misgovernance, and lack of opportunities. To renew democracy, we must strengthen institutions, deliver development, and protect civic space. A free press is democracy’s immune system.”
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Chief Obasanjo, who chaired the event, said Africa’s current democratic model is unsustainable and must be urgently reformed.
Other participants, including President of the ECOWAS Commission Dr Omar Touray and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, echoed the call for reforms, stressing that democracy must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
