ARISE News analyst Dayo Sobowale has asserted that democracy loses its significance when elections are compromised, emphasizing that no administration can claim legitimacy if the electoral process is not conducted freely and fairly.
In an interview with ARISE News on Friday, Sobowale addressed former President Goodluck Jonathan's recent comments about whether democracy invariably leads to economic advancement. Sobowale noted that Jonathan had raised a pertinent and necessary discussion concerning governance and development.
He explained that while democracy is broadly championed as the preferred political system, its true value is contingent upon its ability to foster legitimacy, stability, and economic prosperity for the populace.
"You cannot have democracy and illegitimacy," he stated.
Sobowale elaborated that democracy functions effectively only when citizens are genuinely empowered to select their leaders through transparent and trustworthy elections. He stressed that flawed electoral systems undermine institutions and erode public confidence.
"For democracy to be meaningful and be respected, it has to be legitimate. You need to have free and fair elections periodically for the people to make a choice," he remarked.
He cautioned that when elections are manipulated to ensure the retention of power by incumbents, democracy becomes hollow and loses its moral standing.
"But when you rig the elections, and the election is not free and fair, then you make a mockery of democracy," he added.
Sobowale further characterised democracy in Africa as an adopted political framework, inherited from colonialism, suggesting it was imposed rather than naturally developed from indigenous governance traditions.
He cited examples such as China and the United Arab Emirates, pointing to them as nations that have achieved economic growth and political stability by operating outside Western democratic models.
Despite his critique, Sobowale did not advocate for abandoning democracy altogether. Instead, he called for reforms that would guarantee credible elections and governance structures more aligned with Nigeria's specific context.
"Let's have free, fair elections. That would be democracy," he proposed.
He concluded that until Nigeria resolves the crisis of legitimacy surrounding its elections, democracy will remain incapable of delivering accountability, prosperity, or enduring public trust.
By Triumph Ojo
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