Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has landed safely in Abuja after being swiftly evacuated from Guinea-Bissau, where a sudden military takeover disrupted ongoing election observation activities.
Jonathan arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday evening, bringing an abrupt end to his assignment as head of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observation Mission.
He had travelled to the country to oversee last Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections, which had already been marred by tension and disputes over preliminary results.
The situation escalated when soldiers announced the dissolution of constitutional order while international observer teams were still on ground.
According to Naija News, Jonathan and his team were actively conducting their duties when the military declared it had seized control of government institutions.
In a joint statement delivered alongside other regional and continental observer leaders, Jonathan condemned the coup in strong terms, describing it as an organized attempt to derail Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process.
Standing with him were Filipe Nyusi, head of the African Union Election Observation Mission, and Issifu Kamara, leader of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission.
The trio denounced the military action, warning that such disruptions threaten the credibility of elections and the stability of the nation.
They reaffirmed their collective commitment to supporting Guinea-Bissau “through this delicate moment,” stressing the need to safeguard human life, preserve national heritage, and protect the unity of the country above political ambitions.
Back home, the Federal Government of Nigeria expressed its outrage over the unconstitutional takeover, cautioning that coups across the region undermine decades of democratic progress.
The government labelled the incident “a grave danger to democracy and regional stability” and urged African nations and global partners to work together to prevent further turmoil.
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Jonathan’s safe return brings relief, even as diplomatic efforts intensify to restore order and guide Guinea-Bissau back to civilian governance.
