Nigeria democracy dialogue criticizes Western model

At the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, Nigeria, political leaders including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Nigeria — Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi criticized the state of democracy in Nigeria and Africa. Obasanjo argued that Western liberal democracy lacks African context and content, leading to a winner-takes-all political culture. Diri identified injustice, lack of equity, and absence of fiscal federalism as causes of Nigeria's faltering democracy, citing resource exploitation in Bayelsa and the Nigeria — Niger Delta. Obi alleged that professors aid illiterates in rigging elections and that judges and religious leaders have compromised, calling for citizens to reject such practices. The dialogue, chaired by Obasanjo and hosted by Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed, focused on whether political parties and the judiciary can save African democracy.