I get your point now. But the rooting out of corruption part is a big if in realising the democratic potential of elections. When there are Western interests in play as is the case with many African countries, the corruption is crucial in keeping the subject open to western exploitation. As such any effort that would seem to curb corruption also opposes western interest and faces opposition because of that.

This is why there is a contagion of anti-French coups in Africa currently. It is not because they don't know how to do democracy better but because it's extremely difficult to overturn the ruling class through legal and electoral means.