Africa needs to reassess its approach to winner-takes-all politics, says Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized the form of democracy practiced in many African countries, stating that it is a borrowed concept from the West that has led to a "winner-takes-all" approach in politics.

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This assertion was made by Obasanjo on Tuesday during the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue, which took place in Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State.

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According to Obasanjo, the Western-style liberal democracy adopted by many African nations was not designed with the continent's unique circumstances in mind, and its adoption is comparable to wearing ill-fitting clothing.

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He elaborated on this point, saying "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.

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Obasanjo explained that in this system, "If you beat me by one vote then you take it all and whatever I have does not matter," resulting in a culture where election winners often disregard those who lost, as reported by Channels TV.

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The former president noted that this model has created a political culture where the opposition is often viewed as an enemy, rather than a loyal counterpart, citing the origins of Western liberal democracy in monarchy.

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He pointed out that in many African languages, the word for "opposition" translates to "enemy," making the concept of a "loyal opposition" difficult to apply in an African context.

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Obasanjo also warned against neglecting the importance of diversity in a democratic system, emphasizing that diversity is essential to African societies and must be protected and nurtured.

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He illustrated this point using Nigeria as an example, stating that the country's diversity is what defines it, and that without it, the country would likely fragment into separate entities such as the "Republic of Oduduwa" or the "Republic of Danfodio."

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Furthermore, Obasanjo decried the growing influence of money and other forms of inducement in politics, which he said has increased "by leaps and bounds."

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He also criticized the lack of female representation in Nigerian politics, noting that in over 24 years, no female governor has been elected in the country.

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Obasanjo emphasized that democracy is a continuous process, rather than a fixed destination, and that Nigeria needs to move beyond simply adopting Western-style political parties and judicial structures.

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He suggested that African nations should reassess the Western liberal democracy model, which is being reevaluated by the countries from which it was adopted, and create a system that incorporates African history, culture, and values.

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Obasanjo proposed that this new system could be called "African democracy," which would have an African context and content, and would be more suitable for the continent's unique circumstances.

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

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