- Jonathan Meets Tinubu, Gives Briefing on Guinea Bissau Coup
- Nigeria condemns political unrest, calls for immediate restoration of democratic order.
- ECOWAS urged to ensure detained opposition candidate and results are released.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday hosted former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, days after Jonathan returned from Guinea Bissau, where he led an election observation mission.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Lagos East Senator, Tokunbo Abiru Celebrates Men on International Men’s Day
- Nathaniel Bassey Condemns Kwara, Kebbi Attacks
- 42 Countries Confirm 2026 World Cup Qualification As UEFA Sets Playoff Paths
EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the former president visited to brief the Nigerian leader on the tense political situation in Guinea Bissau, following the recent military intervention that disrupted the announcement of election results.
Jonathan told State House correspondents that although the election had been concluded and the results were known, the military halted the process by detaining the opposition candidate and suspending the declaration of the final outcome. He urged ECOWAS leaders to immediately engage Guinea Bissau’s military authorities to release the detained opposition figure and announce the lawful winner.
He reiterated his earlier comments that the development was “not a coup” but a “ceremonial action,” despite the fact that soldiers seized control of government institutions and imposed a nighttime curfew. The incident led to the arrest of several senior officials, including security and interior ministry personnel, triggering widespread concern across Bissau.
Nigeria’s Federal Government strongly condemned the disruption, describing it as a grave threat to democratic stability in West Africa. Authorities also confirmed that Jonathan and members of his mission were evacuated safely after the unrest began.
Jonathan had been in Guinea Bissau leading the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission ahead of the November 23 presidential and legislative polls before the military intervention halted the release of official results.
