In a sharp critique of regional election oversight, Peter Obi has accused ECOWAS of applying a “double standard” following political upheavals in Guinea-Bissau and technical disruptions during Nigeria’s elections.
Obi in a post on his verified X handle on Sunday, eflected on the unfolding events after returning to Abuja from a European Parliament meeting.
He revealed that he had been concerned for former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who was in Guinea-Bissau as an election observer amid reports of a coup. Obi confirmed that Jonathan was safe and had since returned to Nigeria.
“Dr. @GEJonathan assured me that he was safe. Listening to his press briefing, it struck me that the so-called coup seemed suspicious, especially since it was announced by the president himself,” Obi said. “The election was reportedly peaceful, and only the final results remained. Yet suddenly, there was a coup.”
Obi drew a pointed comparison to Nigeria’s own electoral challenges, noting the irony of how technical issues delayed the announcement of results at home. “While Nigeria faced a ‘technical glitch,’ Guinea-Bissau experienced a ‘coup glitch.’ But no one has clearly explained our glitch,” he said.
The former presidential candidate questioned ECOWAS’s inconsistent responses to electoral disruptions, asking, “What does ECOWAS do when democracy is subverted not by soldiers, but by technology? What is the punishment for countries that announce ‘glitches’ at critical moments during an election?”
Obi argued that the Guinea-Bissau situation underscores a broader challenge in West Africa, where elections can be disrupted either by force or by technical failures. “In both cases, the people suffer, democracy is undermined, and the region sinks deeper into instability. True democracy can only thrive when transparency and accountability prevail, and the voice of the people is respected—not interrupted by glitches or coups,” he said.
Closing his reflection with a message of hope, Obi added, “By addressing these issues constructively, we can work towards a New Nigeria and a more stable, democratic West Africa. Together, we can ensure that the will of the people prevails.”