Former Liberia President George Weah has warned African leaders that electoral victories do not justify authoritarian rule, urging legal professionals to defend democracy and protect institutions from executive overreach.
Speaking at the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Weah said leaders elected through democratic processes can still threaten democracy if they undermine independent institutions.
“ A tyrant with a certificate of return is still a tyrant,” Weah said while addressing lawyers at the conference themed “Beyond Limits.”
The former Liberian leader argued that democracy faces threats not only from military coups or defeated candidates refusing to accept election results, but also from elected officials who weaken the judiciary and legislature.
He urged lawyers to remain a safeguard against abuses of power, stressing that strong institutions are essential for democracy to survive.
“Democracy does not survive on the strength of elections alone. What holds us up? What keeps the roof from collapsing on the people inside it? Our institutions,” he said.
Weah also highlighted his decision to concede defeat during Liberia’s 2023 presidential election, saying he accepted the outcome before the final results were officially announced because the will of voters should come before personal ambition.
The former AC Milan football star, who served as Liberia’s president from 2018 to 2024, called for judicial independence across Africa, warning against political interference in courts.
The NBA conference brought together legal professionals, government officials and stakeholders to discuss issues affecting democracy, governance and the rule of law.