By Abiola Olawale
Former Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), accusing the regional body of applying a glaring “double standard” in its response to the recent political turmoil in Guinea-Bissau.
In a strong statement released on his X handle on Sunday, titled “Reflecting on the ‘Coup Glitches’ in Guinea-Bissau,” Obi questioned why ECOWAS condemned the military disruption in the small West African nation while remaining silent on what he termed “designed technological failures” that have compromised democratic processes elsewhere in the region, particularly referencing electoral issues in Nigeria.
He said: “On Thursday, November 27th, I arrived in Abuja early in the morning after attending a productive meeting at the European Parliament.
“To my distress, I learned that our former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, was caught up in the reported coup situation in Guinea-Bissau.
“ I immediately reached out to him, and he assured me that he was safe. I was further relieved to hear that he had returned safely to Nigeria.
“I listened carefully to his press briefing about the incident. Dr. Jonathan, who was in Guinea-Bissau as an election monitor, noted that the so-called coup appeared suspicious—especially because the president himself announced it and shared details with the international community.
“What makes the situation even more striking is that the election was reportedly peaceful, with the only remaining step being the formal announcement of the results.
“It is safe to say that while Nigeria’s own election was marred by a “technical glitch,” the election in Guinea-Bissau seems to have suffered from a “coup glitch.” Yet, to this day, no one has clearly explained the nature of Nigeria’s glitch.
“ECOWAS was quick to sanction Guinea-Bissau, but 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?
“Do we only condemn coups that are visible with guns and ignore those carried out through a designed technological failure?
“It is essential to recognize that, whether technical or political, these challenges can undermine democracy, hinder progress, and obstruct the rights of African citizens to freely elect their leaders.
“True democracy flourishes in environments of transparency and accountability, where the voice of the people is paramount and not interrupted by unforeseen glitches or political maneuverings.
“By addressing these issues constructively, we can work towards a New Nigeria and a more stable and democratic West Africa. Together, we can ensure that the will of the people prevails and that our elections reflect the true desires of our citizens.
“The Guinea-Bissau scenarios represent two faces of the same crisis: one where ballots are discarded by force and another where ballots are obstructed by convenient technical issues.
“ In both cases, the people suffer, democracy is undermined, and the region sinks deeper into instability. The outcome remains the same: the citizens are denied their mandate.
“True democracy can only thrive when transparency and accountability prevail, and when the voice of the people is respected, not interrupted by glitches or coups. A New Nigeria is Possible.”
