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Jonathan Briefs Tinubu on Guinea-Bissau Election Crisis, Describes Incident as “Ceremonial Coup”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to provide a detailed briefing on the political developments surrounding the recent elections in Guinea-Bissau.

Jonathan, who led an ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to the country, clarified that what has been widely reported as a coup was, in his words, merely a “ceremonial coup” executed by the Head of State.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the former Nigerian leader explained that the electoral process in Guinea-Bissau had been largely concluded and that the results were already known before the political disruption occurred.

“I came this evening to brief Mr President on what happened. That is the tradition for former Presidents,” Jonathan said. “Whenever you are involved in regional or continental engagements, you must brief the President upon your return because ECOWAS leaders will meet, and I may not be there. He needs first-hand information.”

Jonathan faulted the arrest of the opposition candidate, stressing that there was no justification for the action.

“The key thing is that the election was concluded. Collation was almost completed, and the results are known. The winner must be announced,” he stated. “There is no reason to arrest the opposition candidate. He did not declare himself winner; if he had, that would have been considered treasonable. So, why arrest him?”

He urged ECOWAS leaders to engage directly with the Guinea-Bissau authorities to restore democratic order.

“ECOWAS leadership should reach out to the authorities in Guinea-Bissau. They know the right thing to do. First, release the opposition candidate because he has committed no offence. Then, the results should be announced, and whoever won should be inaugurated,” Jonathan said.

Expressing frustration over recurring political instability on the continent, he noted that Africa must move past avoidable crises.

“We are tired of negative stories every day. What happened in Guinea-Bissau was not a palace coup. We know what a real coup or palace coup looks like. This was neither. I struggled to find the right term, so I called it a ceremonial coup — one conducted by the Head of State himself.”

Jonathan reaffirmed that although the circumstances would not justify removing the military, the integrity of the electoral process must be upheld.

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