Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has criticized ECOWAS for what he described as inconsistent responses to threats against democracy in West Africa.
His comments came after the recent coup in Guinea-Bissau, which disrupted the country’s electoral process.
In a post shared on his verified X account, Obi pointed out that ECOWAS was quick to condemn the military interference in Guinea-Bissau, but has remained silent on similar issues in other countries where election outcomes were affected by what he called “technology glitches.”
He said, “On Thursday, 27th November, I arrived in Abuja early in the morning after attending a productive meeting at the European Parliament.
“I listened closely to the press briefing by Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who, as a former President and election monitor in Guinea-Bissau, noted that the so-called coup appeared suspicious.
“Suspicious particularly because it was the president himself who announced the coup and shared details with the international community.
“What makes the situation even more striking is that the election was reportedly peaceful, with only the formal announcement of results outstanding.
“ECOWAS was quick to sanction Guinea-Bissau, but what does ECOWAS do when democracy is subverted, not by soldiers, but by technology?” he queried.
Obi stressed that any form of interference in elections, whether through military action or digital manipulation, should be condemned equally. He said such actions damage public trust and weaken democratic institutions across the region.
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