You’d think that with the continuous work that Yiaga Africa engages in, we’d be concentrating on what’s in front of us. Yet, we are still mulling over the Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa. Not at all! The conference was nothing short of a game-changer! Over two days, Yiaga Africa, with support from GIZ, created an opportunity to unpack the successes, challenges, and future of democracy in West Africa.
And if we can say so ourselves—this wasn’t your typical conference. It was bold, unfiltered, and full of the hard-hitting conversations that democracy desperately needs. Having some of the sharpest minds in governance, policy, and elections in one room was electrifying.
Today, we are spotlighting Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria, whom leading media platforms such as The Guardian, Pulse, Channels TV, The Cable, Vanguard, and others couldn’t get enough of. How can they when he dropped some serious wisdom? His Excellency reminded us that democracy is not a destination but an ongoing journey of learning, adaptation, and improvement. He acknowledged that while West Africa has made significant progress, the 2023/2024 elections showed us both the best and worst of electoral democracy.
Dr. G.E. Jonathan didn’t mince words about political intolerance, hate speech, and the manipulation of ethnic and religious divisions—practices that, if left unchecked, could erode the credibility of elections and destabilise entire nations. His takeaway? Democracy will only thrive if we prioritise inclusivity, tolerance, and respect for the rule of law.
Now, here’s a hot take from Jonathan—technology alone won’t save elections. That made us take a step back to reflect. Think of all the dust that has been raised around biometric voter registration, real-time result transmission and calls for e-voting and then consider that even when technology was heavily used, electoral processes still faced agitations, legal battles, and political tension.
His message was clear: The human element matters just as much as (if not more than) the tech. Without the political will to uphold integrity, no amount of automation can guarantee credible elections.This conference proved that West Africa is not backing down on democracy—we’re doubling down. The work doesn’t stop here. Every insight, every debate, and every recommendation made at #RCDEWestAfrica is a call to action for policymakers, election managers, civil society, and YOU.
