Ex-Liberian President Challenges African Leaders On Democracy, Judicial Independence

Former Liberian President George Weah has cautioned that democracy cannot be sustained by elections alone, warning that leaders who emerge through the ballot box can still undermine democratic governance if institutions meant to check executive power are weakened.

Speaking as keynote speaker at the opening of the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Weah said the survival of democracy depends on strong institutions, particularly an independent judiciary and a fearless legal profession.

“Democracy does not survive on the strength of elections alone. Elections are merely the doorway into democracy, not the house itself,” Weah said. “What keeps democracy standing are institutions, and among the most important of these are an independent judiciary and a principled Bar.”

The former football star-turned-president warned that democratic systems are threatened not only by military coups or leaders who reject election results, but also by elected officials who gradually erode institutional safeguards after assuming office.

“A tyrant with a certificate of return is still a tyrant,” he declared, noting that democracy is tested daily by how those in power treat the courts, parliament and other institutions established to restrain executive excesses.

Weah praised outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, for his insistence that democracy survives on strong institutions rather than strong individuals, describing the statement as a principle that should guide governance across West Africa.

According to him, the rule of law remains the most practical guarantee that citizens’ rights do not depend on political influence, warning that once judicial independence is compromised, public trust, investment, security and national stability begin to deteriorate.

He also expressed concern over developments across parts of Africa where governments exert undue influence on the judiciary through budgetary controls, politically motivated appointments and pressure on judges, while noting a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in some countries since 2020.

Weah urged lawyers across the region to remain vigilant in defending judicial independence, stressing that court decisions must stand without political interference if democracy is to endure.

Reflecting on his own experience in office, the former Liberian leader cited his decision to concede defeat in Liberia’s 2023 presidential election before the final tally was completed, saying peace and the will of the people must always outweigh personal ambition.

“I have always believed that the will of the people must stand above the ambitions of any one man in a democratic setting,” he said, adding that disputed elections pose significant risks to national peace and security.

Weah further challenged African nations to move beyond limitations imposed by poor governance and weak infrastructure, advocating stronger engagement with the continent’s diaspora and greater investment in institution-building as pathways to sustainable development.

Speaking earlier, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, said the judiciary remained indispensable to democratic governance because the courts serve as a refuge for citizens seeking justice, accountability and protection of their constitutional rights. He urged judges to demonstrate courage and integrity by holding both government and citizens accountable to the constitution and rule of law.

Fubara, who recalled that Port Harcourt was originally scheduled to host the NBA conference in 2025 before the declaration of a state of emergency forced its relocation to Enugu, said the return of the conference symbolised the restoration of democratic institutions in the state.

He assured delegates of their safety and said his administration would continue to support judicial independence and access to justice.

The governor disclosed that his administration had expanded access to justice through the appointment of more judges and establishment of additional courts, including a Federal High Court building expected to be handed over before the end of the year.

He also pledged continued support for the administrative and financial autonomy of the state judiciary.

Outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, said the association deliberately returned its flagship conference to Port Harcourt after democratic governance was restored in Rivers State, stressing that the decision was consistent with the NBA’s commitment to the rule of law.

He said Nigeria’s founding aspiration to become a beacon of Africa remained unrealised largely because of institutional weaknesses, tribalism and parochial interests.

Osigwe challenged lawyers to move beyond criticism and provide constructive solutions to the country’s challenges, urging the profession to deepen access to justice, clear the backlog of cases, embrace technology and maintain the highest ethical standards. He said the legal profession must help make the rule of law the foundation of national security and development.

The conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” attracted legal practitioners, judges, academics and policymakers from across Nigeria and beyond, with discussions centred on democracy, judicial independence, governance reforms and the future of the legal profession in Africa.