Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a rethink of the democratic system practised in Africa, saying the Western model adopted by many countries on the continent has produced a “winner-takes-all” political culture.
Obasanjo said African countries should develop a system of government that reflects their history, culture, values and social realities rather than blindly copying political structures developed in other parts of the world.
The former president spoke on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue held in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital.
He argued that the form of Western liberal democracy inherited by many African countries was not designed with the continent’s peculiar circumstances in mind.
According to him, trying to apply a system that does not fit Africa’s realities is like wearing a dress that was not made for the person wearing it.
“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,” Obasanjo said.
He added that the system could either be too small or too big, making it unsuitable for the purpose for which it was adopted.
Obasanjo said one of the major weaknesses of the system was its winner-takes-all nature, where a candidate who wins an election by a narrow margin takes control of government while the interests of those who voted for other candidates are often ignored.
“In practice, we have winner takes all, first past the post. If you beat me by one vote then you take it all and whatever I have does not matter,” he said.
The former president said the system had encouraged political hostility and made it difficult for opponents to work together for the good of their countries.
He also questioned the meaning of the term “loyal opposition” in the African context, arguing that political opponents are often treated as enemies rather than as citizens with different views.
According to him, Western liberal democracy has historical links with monarchy, where opposition groups could remain loyal to the state or the monarch even when they disagreed with the government.
“But when you talk about loyal opposition in an African setting and I have gone into many African languages, opposition means enemy, that is the word. Then do you have a loyal enemy?” he asked.
He said the result was a political culture in which those who win elections often seek to weaken or destroy their opponents instead of recognising them as part of the democratic process.
“So, what do you do with your enemy? You crush him and destroy him and that is what we have,” Obasanjo said.
The former president’s comments came against the background of long-running concerns about the quality of democracy in many African countries, including political exclusion, disputed elections, weak institutions, corruption and the growing influence of money in politics.
He stressed that democracy should not be seen simply as the periodic holding of elections.
According to him, democracy is a continuous process that must reflect the values and needs of the people.
Obasanjo also warned that African countries must learn to manage their diversity properly, describing diversity as an important part of the continent’s identity.
He used Nigeria as an example, saying the country’s strength and identity were closely connected to its many ethnic, cultural and religious groups.
“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,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s diversity must be protected and managed rather than used as a source of division.
“That diversity must be nourished and be taken care of,” he added.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has struggled with political and ethnic divisions since independence. While successive governments have maintained the federal system partly to manage the country’s diversity, disagreements over power-sharing, representation, appointments and access to resources continue to shape political debates.
Obasanjo also raised concerns about the increasing role of money and inducements in politics, saying the problem had grown “by leaps and bounds.”
He linked the problem partly to widespread poverty and illiteracy, which he said could make citizens more vulnerable to financial inducements during elections.
Vote buying has remained a major concern in Nigeria’s elections, with political parties and candidates frequently accused of offering cash, food and other items to influence voters.
The former president also criticised the low level of female representation in Nigerian politics.
He noted that Nigeria had not elected a female governor since the beginning of the Fourth Republic more than two decades ago.
“In Nigeria, you call this one Fourth Republic, we have not elected a female governor in more than 24 years,” he said.
Obasanjo questioned why Nigerian voters continued to elect political leaders who, according to him, often lacked the character and values required to move the country forward.
“And yet the people we are electing, most of them lack character, the lack attributes and values that can endure and can uplift,” he said.
The former president argued that improving democracy in Africa would require more than copying political parties, constitutions and judicial systems from Western countries.
He said African countries should develop democratic institutions that take into account their own history, traditions and values.
“Call it what you like, just make sure it has history, culture and values that are African,” he said.
“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.”
His call reflects a wider debate across Africa over whether the political systems inherited from colonial rule are adequate for addressing the continent’s challenges.
Although elections have become common across Africa, several countries have experienced military coups, disputed elections, constitutional changes aimed at extending presidential terms and political unrest. In some countries, opposition parties have also complained of harassment and exclusion by ruling parties.
Obasanjo therefore argued that African countries should be willing to examine their political systems and make changes where necessary.
He noted that even countries from which African nations borrowed their democratic systems were themselves reviewing and changing aspects of their political arrangements.
He questioned why African countries should not similarly examine their own systems and determine what works best for their people.
The former president’s remarks also highlighted the need for political leaders to recognise that democracy involves compromise, inclusion and respect for opposing views.
Rather than treating elections as battles in which one side must completely defeat the other, he suggested a system that gives room for different groups and interests to participate in governance.
The dialogue was chaired by 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 attracted constitutional experts, civil society representatives and other stakeholders from across Africa.
The gathering provided a platform for discussions on the state of democracy on the continent and possible reforms to strengthen democratic governance.