Former President Goodluck Jonathan has safely returned to Nigeria, having traveled back with the Heads of the African Union Election Observation Mission and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observation Mission. He expressed grave concern over the recent military coup in Guinea-Bissau.
The Nigerian Government has condemned the coup, labeling it an unconstitutional shift in power that threatens regional stability. President Bola Tinubu convened an extraordinary virtual summit with ECOWAS leaders to discuss the political crisis following the coup.
Guinea-Bissau has appointed Army General Horta N’Tam as the transitional head of state for one year. N’Tam was previously the head of the presidential guard.
Jonathan was in Guinea-Bissau as part of an election observing team when the military announced the closure of borders and an overnight curfew after the coup. The Nigerian House of Representatives had called for immediate diplomatic action to ensure Jonathan’s safe return.
The military takeover occurred after both the incumbent president and an opposition candidate declared themselves winners of the recent election, even though official results had not been announced.
The leaders of the observation missions emphasized the importance of restoring constitutional order and condemned the military’s disruption of the electoral process. They expressed concern about the arrests of officials involved in the electoral process and urged for their immediate release.
The Federal Government has expressed solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau, demanding the restoration of democratic institutions and the safety of all detainees.
Civil society groups in Guinea-Bissau have accused the ousted president of orchestrating a self-staged coup to prevent the announcement of election results, should he lose.
In response to the unfolding situation, West African leaders engaged in an emergency meeting to collectively address the crisis, underscoring ECOWAS’s resolve against further destabilization in the region.
