'Dem must announce winner of Guinea-Bissau presidential election result' - Nigeria ex-president Jonathan caution

Former Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan wey go observe Guinea-Bissau election don cut warning give di regional bloc, Economic community of West African states (Ecowas) say dem must announce winner of di presidential election for Guinea-Bissau.

Oga Jonathan dey Guinea-Bissau wen di military stage a coup wey overthrow di incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

Di former Nigerian president dey among di African leaders wey dey on di joint mission of di African Union, di Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) plus di West African Elders Forum wey dey di coup-hit Guinea-Bissau to monitor di presidential election wey hold on Sunday, 23 November.

At first, concern bin dey about di safety of Oga Jonathan wen di tori of di coup'd'etat break and e dey di kontri wen e army group arrest Guinea-Bissau president.

Later on, di presidential jet of Ivory Coast carry Nigeria former leader come back as former president Jonathan arrive wit im team for di Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport for Abuja on Thursday 27 November 2025.

Wen Oga Jonathan dey follow tori pipo tok, e say wetin happun for Guinea-Bissau no be coup, say di president, Embalo get hand inside.

Embalo bin take part for di 23 November 2025 presidential and legislative elections wia e cast im vote for Nema 1 for Gabu area of Guinea-Bissau.

But shortly bifor di announcement of di election results, report come say some armed men don arrest Guinea-Bissau president Embaló, afta gunshots ring through di capital city Bissau.

Oga Jonathan say na president Embalo bin announce di coup by imsef even wey electoral body neva announce result.

'No be coup'

Former president Jonathan say e dey strange say sitting president go announce coup by imsef for im own kontri. Allegation wey Embalo neva deny.

E say Guinea-Bissau president Embalo bin dey address media while di coup bin dey go on, but no be so coup be.

"Wetin happun for Guinea-Bissau, I no go call am coup, no be coup. I fit describe am as ceremonial coup becos di president, Embalo bin announce di coup."

"Later di military man come up to address di world say dem dey in-charge, but Embalo don alreadi announce bifor and e dey strange.

"While di coup dey take place, Embalo dey use im phone to address media organistions across di world, say dem don arrest am."

Oga Jonathan say as an experienced Nigerian leader and Ecowas mediator wey dey close to 70 years old, im sabi how dem dey keep head of state wen coup happun, but di one wey happun for Guinea-Bissau no be am.

"Military coup no go takeova goment and di sitting president wey dem overthrow go dey allowed to dey address press conferences or dey announce say dem don arrest am."

"Wetin happun for Guinea-Bissau dey more disturbing to me wey believe for democracy, I feel more pain.

E describe di situation for Guinea-Bissau say e be like say dem dey go back to di dark days of Guinea-Bissau wia military fit do anyhow and 'e dey unacceptable.'

'Di leadership of Ecowas and AU gatz announce who win dat election'

Wen di coup bin break out, African Union and Ecowas na part of dose wey fess chook mouth to express dia concern say military takeova for Guinea-Bissau.

For inside one joint statement, leaders of election observation missions from di African Union and di West African bloc Ecowas bin dey prepare for announcement of results wen di gbege happun.

Oga Jonathan say di election go on peacefully, and as part of di West Africa Elders Forum, during di meeting of all heads of observers, nobodi say anytin bad becos di elections dey peaceful.

"Na good election wey we expect make dem announce di results, dem don finish to dey collate di presidential results for regions and results don ready for di nine regions."

"Dem bin dey collate am for di capital wia we dey expect make dem announce di results, na so Embalo announce say coup dey," Jonathan tok.

For im advice to Ecowas, Oga Jonathan say dem gatz announce di outcome of di election make dem sabi di winner.

"My charge to Ecowas and AU be say dem must announce dat result, dem get di results."

"AU and Ecowas officials dey for all di regions wey dem collate di result, so dem no fit change di result, make dem tally di results, make dem announce am."

Oga Jonathna agree say dem no fit force di military comot but dem gatz announce and 'let di world know who win dat election.'

Anoda one wey former president Jonathan tok be say make Ecowas no fear becos dia protocol no agree wit military rule.

Di leadership of Ecowas and AU gatz dey courageous, dem must announce who win dat election.

E say if Ecowas try make di bloc dey attractive, all di kontris wey dey under military rule go come back under Ecowas and return to civilian rule.

"For Ecowas, we agree say we must not go back to military rule, we must embrace democracy. Make Ecowas attractive to pipo, dis kontris wey comot go come back togeda."

"E no go take more dan 10 years for all dis kontris to return to civilian rule. Ecowas must stand firm, we not fit allow military rule."