Former Liberian President George Weah has urged African leaders to uphold democratic principles, warning that leaders who use elected office to undermine democratic institutions can become threats to democracy.
Weah made the remarks on Sunday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, under the theme “Beyond Limits.”
The former president said threats to democracy do not come only from military coups or politicians who refuse to accept electoral defeat.
He warned that a leader who comes to power through a free and fair election can gradually begin to govern like a dictator by weakening the judiciary and turning the legislature into an institution that merely endorses executive decisions.
“A tyrant with a certificate of return is still a tyrant,” Weah told the gathering.
Weah Recalls Conceding Liberia’s 2023 Election
To illustrate his commitment to democratic principles, Weah recalled his decision to concede defeat in Liberia’s November 2023 presidential election before the final results had been formally announced.
The former football star said people around him had advised him to wait for the final vote count and challenge disputed figures.
However, he chose to accept the will of the electorate.
“I chose to concede while the counting was still underway because I have always believed and still believe that the will of the people must stand above the ambitions of any one man in the democratic setting,” he said.
Weah served as Liberia’s president from 2018 to 2024 before losing his re-election bid to current President Joseph Boakai.
Lawyers Must Protect Democracy
Weah also challenged members of the legal profession to serve as a shield against executive overreach and defend judicial independence.
He argued that elections alone cannot guarantee democracy without strong institutions capable of checking abuses of power.
“Democracy does not survive on the strength of elections alone,” he said, stressing the importance of institutions in preventing democratic systems from collapsing.
According to Weah, courts must be able to make decisions independently and without political interference.
“A court decision must mean what it says without any political permission,” he said.
Warning Against Executive Control
The former Liberian president cited situations where judicial institutions depend on the executive for funding, arguing that such arrangements can weaken their ability to hold government accountable.
He warned that democratic institutions become vulnerable when political leaders exert excessive influence over the judiciary and legislature.
Weah said African countries must therefore strengthen institutional independence and ensure that elected officials remain accountable to the Constitution and the people.
His remarks at the NBA Conference placed renewed emphasis on the responsibility of lawyers, judges and political leaders to protect democratic values and prevent elected governments from sliding into authoritarianism.
