Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over recent political developments in Guinea-Bissau, drawing parallels with Nigeria’s own electoral challenges.
Obi said he was distressed to learn that former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was caught up in the reported coup situation in Guinea-Bissau while serving as an election monitor. He confirmed that Jonathan had assured him of his safety and had since returned to Nigeria.
Speaking on Jonathan’s account of the incident, Obi noted that the so-called coup appeared suspicious, particularly because it was announced directly by Guinea-Bissau’s president despite reports that the election itself had been peaceful. He described the situation as a “coup glitch,” contrasting it with Nigeria’s “technical glitch” during its own elections, which remains unexplained.
Obi questioned the response of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which swiftly sanctioned Guinea-Bissau, asking what measures the regional body takes when democracy is undermined not by soldiers but by technology. “Do we only condemn coups that are visible with guns and ignore those carried out through designed technical failures?” he asked.
He warned that both scenarios—ballots discarded by force or obstructed by technical issues—deny citizens their mandate, undermine democracy, and fuel instability in the region. Obi stressed that true democracy can only thrive when transparency and accountability prevail, and when the voice of the people is respected without interruption by coups or glitches.
Obi concluded by urging constructive engagement to build a “New Nigeria” and a more stable West Africa, where elections genuinely reflect the will of the people.
