Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stressed that leaders who fail to deliver on their mandate should be removed from office through credible elections.

Speaking at the 2025 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue in Accra, Ghana, Jonathan warned that electoral malpractice remains one of Africa’s biggest threats and could push the continent toward authoritarianism if not addressed.

In a statement issued by the Foundation’s Communications Officer, Mr. Wealth Dickson Ominabo, Jonathan said democracy in Africa is at risk unless stakeholders work together to rethink and reform it. He emphasized that manipulation of electoral processes allows underperforming leaders to cling to power against the will of the people.

Jonathan noted that citizens want their votes to count, equitable representation, inclusivity, quality education, security, jobs, dignity, and access to healthcare. He stressed that when these expectations are not met, citizens become frustrated and lose faith in democracy.

He also encouraged youth participation in governance but said their success depends on drawing from the wisdom and guidance of older leaders.

Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, and other policymakers also addressed the event. They all called for reforms to strengthen democracy in Africa, stressing accountability, transparency, service delivery, and the protection of civic space and media freedom.

Mahama said Africans must actively safeguard democracy, warning that corruption, poor governance, and lack of opportunities threaten its survival. Obasanjo, who chaired the dialogue, added that Africa’s current democratic model is unsustainable and must urgently be reformed.