Jonathan urges ECOWAS to intervene in Guinea-Bissau by compelling the military to announce the presidential election winner and release the detained opposition candidate

Jonathan urges ECOWAS to take swift and decisive diplomatic action in resolving the escalating political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, following the military’s takeover during the final stages of the country’s presidential election.

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who returned to Nigeria on Thursday after being evacuated from the country, briefed President Bola Tinubu on Saturday at the State House, Abuja.

Jonathan had led the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission to monitor the polls before the abrupt military intervention disrupted the almost-completed collation of results.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Jonathan stressed that the election had already been concluded and that the results were known before the military halted the process.

“The key thing is that the election was concluded. Tallying of the results was almost concluded. In fact, the results are known. The winner of that election must be announced,” he said.

Jonathan emphasised that military confrontation was not an option, urging ECOWAS leaders instead to engage directly with Guinea-Bissau’s military authorities.

“What I’m asking ECOWAS leaders to do is to reach out to the military leadership in Guinea-Bissau. Talk to them. They are human beings. They know the right thing to be done,” he stated.

He also demanded the immediate release of the detained opposition candidate, insisting that the individual committed no offence warranting arrest.

“The man did not announce himself as the winner of the election. If he had done that, they could say it was a treasonable offence. So, there was no reason to arrest him.

They should release him and announce the results,” Jonathan said.

The former president said the restoration of constitutional order would require installing the duly elected candidate once results are announced.

He further lamented the persistent political instability plaguing parts of Africa, noting that citizens across the continent are “tired” of recurring democratic reversals.

Dismissing claims that the development in Guinea-Bissau amounted to a “palace coup,” Jonathan described it instead as a “ceremonial coup” orchestrated by the country’s head of state.

“What happened in Guinea-Bissau is not a palace coup. We know real coups and palace coups.