Former President Goodluck Jonathan returned safely to Nigeria yesterday alongside the heads of the African Union Election Observation Mission, the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, and the West African Elders Forum. He expressed concern over the military coup carried out by the armed forces in Guinea-Bissau.
The Nigerian Government also condemned the coup, describing it as an unconstitutional takeover that threatens stability in West Africa.
President Bola Tinubu joined other ECOWAS leaders in an emergency virtual summit held yesterday to address the unfolding political crisis.
Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau has named and sworn in Army General Horta N’Tam as its transitional head of state for one year. Until the coup, N’Tam served as head of the presidential guard.
Jonathan, who had travelled as part of a joint AU-ECOWAS election observer mission, was initially trapped in the country after the military shut all borders and imposed an overnight curfew.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives had earlier urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to ensure Jonathan’s safe return.
The military takeover occurred after both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias declared themselves winners of Sunday’s presidential election, even though official results had not yet been released. The outcome was scheduled for announcement yesterday.
The joint observer missions, in a statement by Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, Issifu Kamara, and Jonathan, condemned the military disruption. They said the voting process was peaceful and well-organised and commended the civic engagement of the people.
They expressed “deep concern” over the coup announcement, especially after both leading candidates had earlier assured the missions of their willingness to accept the people’s decision.
The missions described the takeover as a “blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process” and called on the African Union and ECOWAS to restore constitutional order.
They also raised concerns about the arrests of top officials, including those overseeing the electoral process, and demanded their immediate release.
The Federal Government criticised the unconstitutional takeover, warning that it threatens regional security.
In a statement yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, Nigeria expressed “profound dismay and deep concern,” insisting that constitutional order must be restored immediately and all detained officials released unharmed.
The government reaffirmed its solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and urged strict respect for democratic institutions.
Ebienfa confirmed Jonathan’s safe evacuation yesterday, assuring Nigerians that the former President “is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau.”
Some civil society groups in Guinea-Bissau accused the ousted President, Umaro Embaló, of orchestrating a simulated coup with the help of the military to block the release of election results in case he lost.
The coalition, Popular Front, claimed that the move was meant to “prevent the publication of the electoral results.”
