President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday briefed President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on the events surrounding the recent elections in Guinea Bissau, clarifying that what was widely described as a coup was, in his words, a “ceremonial coup” carried out by the country’s head of state.
Jonathan, who spoke with journalists after the meeting, said the election results were already known before the crisis erupted and criticised the arrest of the opposition candidate, describing it as unnecessary and unjustified.
He explained that his visit to the Villa was part of the tradition where former presidents involved in regional engagements update the sitting president. According to him, the briefing was necessary as ECOWAS leaders are expected to meet soon, and Tinubu needed firsthand information.
Jonathan stressed that the key priority for ECOWAS should be ensuring that the winner of the Guinea Bissau election is announced without delay. He added that while removing the military was unlikely due to its implications, the regional body must insist on transparency.
He urged ECOWAS to engage directly with Guinea Bissau’s leadership to secure the release of the detained opposition candidate, noting that the politician had committed no offence since he did not declare himself winner.
Jonathan insisted that the results must be made public and that whoever emerged victorious should be sworn in. He lamented the frequency of political instability across the continent, saying Africans were “tired of negative stories.”
Describing the situation further, he dismissed claims of a palace coup, saying it did not fit any known classification. “I was looking for the appropriate term,” he said, “which is why I called it a ceremonial coup conducted by the head of state himself.”
