Former Liberian President George Weah has warned that
elected leaders who gradually undermine democratic institutions can pose as
much of a threat to democracy as military coup plotters.
Weah made the remarks on Sunday during the opening
ceremony of the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State. The conference is being held under the theme, “Beyond
Limits.”
The former president argued that the threat to
democracy does not come only from soldiers attempting to seize power or
defeated politicians refusing to accept election results.
According to Weah, leaders who come to power through
free and fair elections can also undermine democracy by weakening institutions
designed to check executive authority.
He warned against situations where political leaders
exert pressure on the judiciary and legislature, turning them into instruments
that serve the executive rather than independent institutions capable of
holding government accountable.
Weah stressed that winning an election does not give a
leader unlimited power, warning that “a tyrant with a certificate of return
is still a tyrant.”
The former football star also recalled his decision to
concede defeat in Liberia’s November 2023 presidential election before the
final results had been officially announced.
Weah said he chose to congratulate his successor while
vote counting was still ongoing because he believed the will of the people
should take precedence over the ambitions of any individual politician.
He urged members of the legal profession to remain a
strong defence against executive overreach, emphasising the importance of an
independent judiciary in protecting democracy.
“Democracy does not survive on the strength of
elections alone,” Weah said, stressing that strong institutions are necessary
to prevent democratic systems from collapsing.
He further warned that judicial independence can be
compromised when courts depend on the executive for funding or require
political approval before their decisions can be effectively implemented.
According to Weah, a court judgment must carry
authority without political interference, arguing that democratic institutions
can only function effectively when they are allowed to operate independently.
Weah served as President of Liberia from 2018 to 2024
and remains a prominent voice on democratic governance in Africa.
Comments:
Leave a Reply