Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, today accused the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of double standards in handling democratic disruptions across the region. In a detailed statement on his X account, Obi highlighted the bloc's swift response to the military coup in Guinea-Bissau while remaining silent on similar issues caused by technological failures in elections.
Obi recounted his recent experience upon returning to Abuja from a meeting at the European Parliament. He expressed concern over the safety of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who served as an election monitor in Guinea-Bissau. Jonathan described the coup as suspicious, noting that the country's president announced it himself despite a peaceful voting process. Obi emphasized that only the announcement of results remained when the disruption occurred.
In his statement, Obi drew parallels between the "coup glitch" in Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria's own "technical glitch" during the 2023 elections. He questioned ECOWAS's actions, stating, "ECOWAS was quick to sanction Guinea-Bissau, but what does ECOWAS do when democracy is subverted not by soldiers, but by technology?"
Furthermore, Obi asked about punishments for countries that cite 'glitches' at critical election moments, urging the body to condemn all forms of subversion equally, whether through guns or designed technical failures.
Obi stressed that addressing these inconsistencies constructively would foster a more stable and democratic West Africa. He argued that both military coups and technical obstructions deny citizens their mandate, leading to instability. "True democracy can only thrive when transparency and accountability prevail," he added, reaffirming his commitment to a New Nigeria where the people's will is respected.