The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to immediately deploy all diplomatic channels to secure the safe return of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is reportedly stranded in Guinea-Bissau following Wednesday’s military coup.
The resolution was reached on Thursday, November 27, during plenary—barely 24 hours after soldiers in the West African nation seized power and suspended constitutional rule.
Lawmakers noted that Jonathan was in Guinea-Bissau as part of a high-level joint mission comprising the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF). The delegation had travelled to the country to monitor last weekend’s presidential election before hostilities erupted.
The House also called on the Federal Government to ensure the evacuation of all Nigerian citizens currently trapped in the country as tensions escalate.
According to reports, Brigadier General Denis N’Canha, head of the military office of the presidency, appeared before journalists on Wednesday flanked by armed officers, announcing that a joint military command had taken control of the state “until further notice.” The announcement came a day before the scheduled release of results from a tightly contested presidential poll.
Following the declaration, the military halted the electoral process, sealed the nation’s borders, and assumed full control. The political situation further intensified after reports emerged that incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was taken into custody alongside senior officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Biague Na Ntan; Deputy Chief of Staff, Mamadou Traoré; and the Minister of Interior, Botche Candé.
In separate reactions, election observer missions from ECOWAS, the AU, and Nigeria condemned the coup, describing it as a grave threat to regional stability and democracy. They called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the protection of all diplomatic envoys and election monitors currently in the country.
