Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed concern over the reported coup incident in Guinea-Bissau, describing it as “suspicious” and warning that West Africa must confront all forms of democratic subversion—whether through military force or technological manipulation.
Obi’s comments followed news that former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who was in Guinea-Bissau as head of an election monitoring delegation, was caught up in the confusion surrounding what President Umaro Sissoco Embaló claimed was a coup attempt. Jonathan has since safely returned to Nigeria.
Related posts:
- Jonathan, election observers trapped as military take over Guinea Bissau
- Guinea Bissau’s president visits Tinubu in Lagos (photos)
- Goodluck Jonathan visits President Tinubu to brief him on Guinea-Bissau political situation
- I remain a Labour Party member – Obi reacts to controversy after comment about ‘Obidients’
In a statement on Friday, Obi recounted that he had just arrived in Abuja from a meeting at the European Parliament when he was informed of the situation. He immediately contacted Jonathan to confirm his safety.
“I was relieved when he assured me he was fine and later returned to Nigeria safely,” Obi said.
Obi noted that Jonathan’s public briefing on the incident raised important questions. According to Jonathan, the situation appeared questionable: the election had been peaceful, and only the formal announcement of results was pending, yet it was President Embaló—rather than the military—who publicly announced a coup and informed the international community.
“What is even more striking is that Guinea-Bissau’s election was reportedly peaceful,” Obi said. “The only issue was the pending release of results. It now seems that while Nigeria had a ‘technical glitch,’ Guinea-Bissau had a ‘coup glitch.’”
Obi Questions ECOWAS’ Response to Election Disruptions
Obi criticised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for swiftly reacting to the alleged coup in Guinea-Bissau while failing, in his view, to address cases where democratic processes are derailed through non-military methods.
“ECOWAS was quick to sanction Guinea-Bissau,” Obi said. “But what does ECOWAS do when democracy is subverted, not by soldiers, but by technology? What is the punishment for countries that announce ‘glitches’ at critical moments during elections?”
He argued that democracy can be overthrown in more subtle ways than through the barrel of a gun. He questioned why technical failures that affect electoral transparency are not treated with the same seriousness as military coups.
“Do we only condemn coups that are visible with guns and ignore those carried out through convenient technical failures?” he asked.
A Call for Transparent and Accountable Elections
Obi said the Guinea-Bissau incident and Nigeria’s own electoral controversies reflect the same underlying crisis: the erosion of democratic credibility. Whether elections are disrupted by armed forces or by unexplained system failures, the end result, he argued, is identical—voters are denied their mandate.
“These scenarios represent two faces of the same crisis,” he said. “In one, ballots are discarded by force; in the other, ballots are obstructed by technical issues. In both cases, the people suffer, democracy is undermined, and the region sinks deeper into instability.”
The former Anambra State governor insisted that true democracy can only take root when transparency, accountability and respect for voters’ choices are guaranteed.
Towards a ‘New Nigeria’ and a Stable West Africa
Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria and its West African neighbours must build strong institutions that can withstand both military pressure and technological manipulation.
“By addressing these issues constructively, we move closer to a New Nigeria and a more stable and democratic West Africa,” he said. “Our elections must reflect the genuine will of the people.”
He stressed that citizens must demand reliable electoral systems that cannot be compromised, adding that only then can democracy flourish in the region.
“A New Nigeria is Possible,” he concluded.
The Guinea-Bissau government has continued to defend its position that a coup attempt took place, though regional observers and segments of the international community remain unconvinced, especially given the unusual circumstances under which the alleged plot was announced.
As West Africa grapples with a resurgence of military interventions and growing distrust in electoral processes, Obi’s remarks add to calls for a comprehensive review of democratic practices across the region.
