Former President Goodluck Jonathan has updated President Bola Tinubu on the political turmoil unfolding in Guinea‑Bissau following its contested presidential election and subsequent military takeover.
The crisis escalated on Wednesday when military officers seized power approximately three days after the disputed presidential and legislative polls. The officers suspended the electoral process, shut the country’s borders, and halted the announcement of the official results.
Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observer Mission to Guinea‑Bissau, met with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Saturday. He provided a first-hand briefing on the situation and the events that unfolded after the military intervened in the electoral process.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Jonathan said it was customary to brief the Nigerian President on such missions to ensure he is fully informed and prepared to engage with ECOWAS leaders ahead of the regional summit.
“In ECOWAS, when you return from such assignments, you brief your President so leaders get first-hand information,” Jonathan said.
He noted that vote tallying in Guinea‑Bissau had been completed and stressed that the winner must be officially declared.
Jonathan urged ECOWAS and African leaders to engage the military authorities to restore constitutional order, saying the declared winner should be inaugurated if the military agrees. He emphasized that the continent must move beyond recurrent political instability.
He also called for the immediate release of detained opposition candidate Fernando Diaz, insisting the candidate committed no offence.
“There was no reason to arrest him. He didn’t announce himself as president. They should free him and announce the result.
“We are tired of negative stories. What happened was not a palace coup. It wasn’t even close. I described it as a ceremonial coup.
“We’re not pushing out the military by force. People will die. ECOWAS should engage them. They know the right thing to do,” he added.
