Obasanjo: Africa's Winner-Takes-All Democracy Needs Rethinking

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a rethink of the democratic system practised across much of Africa, arguing that the Western liberal democracy inherited by many African countries does not adequately reflect the continent’s history, culture, values and realities.

Obasanjo said the system had encouraged a “winner-takes-all” political culture in which those who win elections often disregard or marginalise those who lose.

He made the remarks on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital.

According to the former Nigerian leader, Western liberal democracy evolved from political traditions that are different from those found in many African societies.

“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 African languages, opposition means enemy, that is the word. Then do you have a loyal enemy?” he said.

Obasanjo argued that the perception of political opponents as enemies has contributed to the destructive nature of political competition in many African countries.

“So, what do you do with your enemy? You crush him and destroy him and that is what we have,” he said.

He described the current democratic model as one that lacks sufficient African context and content, comparing its adoption to wearing a garment that was not tailored to fit.

“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,” Obasanjo said.

He also criticised the first-past-the-post electoral system, saying it reinforces the winner-takes-all mentality.

“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.

### Diversity Must Be Protected

Obasanjo further warned against political systems that fail to recognise and manage diversity, stressing that diversity is an important feature of African societies.

He said Nigeria’s identity, in particular, is deeply rooted in its ethnic, cultural and regional diversity and that such differences must be deliberately protected.

“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.

The former president also expressed concern over the growing influence of money and other forms of inducement in Nigerian politics, saying the trend had increased “by leaps and bounds.”

While acknowledging that widespread poverty and illiteracy pose challenges to democratic development, Obasanjo also criticised the lack of gender representation in Nigerian politics.

He noted that Nigeria had yet to elect a female governor since the beginning of the Fourth Republic more than 24 years ago.

“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, lack attributes and values that can endure and can uplift,” he said.

### Obasanjo Calls for an African Democratic Model

On the way forward, Obasanjo said African countries should not limit democratic reform to simply adopting foreign political parties and judicial structures.

He stressed that democracy should be regarded as a continuous process rather than a destination.

Obasanjo pointed out that countries from which African nations adopted Western liberal democracy were themselves reviewing and reconsidering aspects of their political systems.

“If they are reconsidering it, why should we not reconsider it?” he asked.

He said Africa should develop a democratic model that reflects its own history, culture and values.

“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 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 and civil society representatives from across Africa.