Peter Obi Accuses ECOWAS of Double Standards Over Guinea-Bissau Coup
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of applying double standards in its response to the disruption of the electoral process in Guinea-Bissau.
In a statement posted on his verified X account on Sunday, Obi criticized ECOWAS for quickly condemning the military-arranged interruption in Guinea-Bissau while remaining silent on similar “technology glitches” that have occurred in other countries.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, emphasized that any disruption to the electoral process whether by military or technical means undermines democracy and should be universally condemned.
In a post titled “Reflecting on the ‘Coup Glitches in Guinea-Bissau’”, he recounted his observations following a visit to Abuja on Thursday, November 27, after attending a meeting at the European Parliament.
He said he listened carefully to a press briefing by former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was in Guinea-Bissau as an election monitor.
Obi highlighted concerns raised by Jonathan, noting that the so-called coup appeared suspicious, particularly because the president of Guinea-Bissau himself announced the disruption and shared details with the international community.
“Glitches of any type should be condemned, as they undermine democracy,” Obi wrote, urging ECOWAS and other regional bodies to adopt consistent standards in responding to electoral disruptions across member states.
The former presidential candidate’s remarks come amid increasing scrutiny of ECOWAS’ role in safeguarding democratic processes in West Africa, particularly in countries facing electoral challenges.
