Former Liberian President George Weah has urged African leaders to uphold democratic principles, warning that leaders who gradually adopt authoritarian methods can pose as much danger to democracy as military coup plotters.
Weah made the remarks on Sunday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, held under the theme “Beyond Limits.”
Addressing legal professionals and other delegates, the former president said threats to democracy do not come only from soldiers seizing power or political candidates refusing to accept election results.
He warned that leaders who initially come to power through free and fair elections can gradually undermine democratic institutions by weakening the judiciary and turning the legislature into an instrument for extending executive control.
“A tyrant with a certificate of return is still a tyrant,” Weah declared.
Weah Recalls Conceding Liberia’s 2023 Election
The former president cited his decision to concede defeat in Liberia’s November 2023 presidential election as an example of putting democratic principles above personal ambition.
Weah said he congratulated his successor before the final results had been formally announced.
“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, following a successful career as a professional footballer, including his time with AC Milan.
Judiciary Must Remain Independent
Weah also called on lawyers to protect democratic institutions and resist executive overreach.
He argued that elections alone cannot guarantee democracy unless institutions remain strong and independent.
“Democracy does not survive on the strength of elections alone,” he said, stressing the importance of institutions in preventing the abuse of power.
According to Weah, the judiciary must be able to operate independently and make decisions without seeking political approval.
He criticised situations where judicial budgets are controlled by the executive branch, particularly when the judiciary is expected to hold government officials accountable.
“A court decision must mean what it says without any political permission,” he said.
Lawyers Urged to Protect Democracy
The former Liberian leader told members of the legal profession that they have an important responsibility to protect constitutional democracy and prevent institutions from being weakened by political interference.
He warned that democratic backsliding can happen gradually when elected leaders undermine checks and balances, weaken judicial independence and pressure legislative institutions.
Weah’s address placed the legal profession at the centre of the broader struggle to preserve democratic governance in Africa, urging lawyers to remain vigilant whenever political power threatens constitutional institutions.
