Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the unfolding constitutional crisis in Guinea-Bissau, where military officers halted the release of the recent presidential and legislative election results and seized control of key state institutions.
Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observer Mission to the country, met President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, where he delivered a firsthand account of events that occurred shortly after voters cast their ballots. According to him, the vote-counting process had already been completed, but the military suspended the electoral process, sealed the borders, and prevented the formal announcement of the winner.
Speaking after the meeting, Jonathan emphasized that it is standard practice to brief Nigeria’s President—who currently chairs the ECOWAS Authority—so regional leaders can receive firsthand intelligence before taking collective action.
He stressed that the central issue remains constitutional legitimacy, insisting that whoever emerged victorious at the polls must be formally declared and, if possible, inaugurated through dialogue rather than confrontation. He cautioned ECOWAS against any approach that could trigger violence, noting that the situation did not resemble a classic or violent coup.
Jonathan described the incident as a “ceremonial coup”—a symbolic seizure of political authority rather than an outright overthrow—warning that West Africa cannot continue to recycle political instability at every electoral cycle.
He also called for the immediate release of detained opposition figure Fernando Diaz, asserting that there was no legal basis for his arrest since he did not declare himself winner or violate electoral laws.
Jonathan urged ECOWAS to engage the military authorities constructively, saying regional diplomacy, rather than force, would be more effective in restoring constitutional order
