Former President Goodluck Jonathan has emphasized that credible elections remain the most effective way to hold leaders accountable and remove those who fail to deliver on their promises.
Speaking at the 2025 Democracy Dialogue organized by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, Jonathan warned that when democracy does not meet the expectations of the people, it can drive citizens toward desperation and create fertile ground for authoritarian rule.
He expressed concern over the increasing challenges facing democracy in Africa, especially electoral manipulation, where some leaders exploit weak institutions to cling to power against the will of the people.
“If we had credible elections, leaders who fail to perform would be voted out,” Jonathan said. “But in many cases, the process is manipulated to perpetuate them in office.”
The former president stressed that Africans are not just seeking elections for their own sake but good governance that guarantees freedom, fair representation, quality education, security, healthcare, employment opportunities, and dignity.
According to him, when these fundamental needs are neglected, citizens begin to lose trust in both leaders and the democratic process itself.
Jonathan called for reforms to strengthen electoral systems across the continent, noting that transparent and fair elections are essential to building stability, peace, and development in Africa.
