Peter Obi accuses ECOWAS of double requirements over Guinea-Bissau ‘coup glitch’
The 2023 Labour Celebration presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the {Economic} Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS), accusing the regional bloc of making use of double requirements in its response to electoral disruptions in Guinea-Bissau.
Obi, in an announcement shared on his verified X deal with on Sunday, faulted ECOWAS for swiftly condemning what he described as a “military-arranged glitch” in Guinea-Bissau, whereas remaining silent on related technology-related glitches reported in different African elections.
Within the submit titled “Reflecting on the ‘Coup Glitches in Guinea-Bissau’,” Obi argued that disruptions—whether or not brought on by troopers or expertise—undermine democracy and shouldn’t be ignored.
“I listened rigorously to the press briefing of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, as the previous President, who was in Guinea-Bissau as an election monitor, famous that the so-called coup appeared suspicious,” Obi stated.
He highlighted Jonathan’s concern that the alleged coup was uncommon, noting that “it was the president himself who introduced the coup and shared particulars with the worldwide neighborhood.”
In response to Obi, the election in Guinea-Bissau was reported to be peaceable, with solely the formal declaration of outcomes pending earlier than the alleged disruption occurred.
“ECOWAS was fast to sanction Guinea-Bissau, however what does ECOWAS do when democracy is subverted, not by troopers, however by expertise?” he queried.
The previous Anambra State governor questioned whether or not the sub-regional physique would punish international locations that attribute election disruptions to “glitches” at essential moments.
“Can we solely condemn coups which might be seen with weapons and ignore these carried out by means of a designed technological failure?” he requested.
Obi warned that each technical and political manipulations pose threats to democratic processes, saying: “It’s important to recognise that whether or not technical or political, these challenges can undermine democracy, hinder progress and impede the rights of African residents to freely elect their leaders.”
Obi emphasised that democracy thrives solely when transparency, accountability, and the supremacy of residents’ voices are upheld.
“By addressing these points constructively, we are able to work in direction of a New Nigeria and a extra steady and democratic West Africa. Collectively, we are able to make sure that the need of the individuals prevails and that our elections mirror the true wishes of our residents,” he acknowledged.
He described the Guinea-Bissau episode as symbolic of a wider disaster within the area.
“The Guinea-Bissau situations signify two faces of the identical disaster: one the place ballots are discarded by power and one other the place ballots are obstructed by handy technical points,” he stated.
“In each instances, the individuals undergo, democracy is undermined, and the area sinks deeper into instability. The result stays the identical: the residents are denied their mandate.”
ECOWAS had suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making our bodies after a army coup eliminated President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on 26 November.