Former President Goodluck Jonathan is currently stranded in Guinea-Bissau following a military takeover, prompting the House of Representatives to call on the Federal Government to act swiftly and bring him and other Nigerians stuck there back home safely.
Jonathan, who was in the country as part of a joint observer mission of the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), had travelled to monitor last weekend’s presidential elections. However, the political atmosphere changed abruptly after soldiers seized control on Wednesday.
During Thursday’s plenary, lawmakers urged the Federal Government to deploy every diplomatic channel available to ensure Jonathan’s return and protect other Nigerian citizens caught in the crisis.
The coup leaders, led by Brigadier General Denis N’Canha, suspended the electoral process and shut the nation’s borders barely three days after the vote. N’Canha announced that a unified military command had taken over governance “until further notice,” addressing journalists while flanked by heavily armed troops.
Reports indicate that incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is considered the favourite to win Sunday’s poll was also detained.
According to military sources, he was held within a building near the armed forces headquarters. Embalo later confirmed that he was arrested inside the presidential palace. Senior military officials, including the chief of staff General Biague Na Ntan, his deputy General Mamadou Traore, and Interior Minister Botche Cande, were also reportedly taken into custody.
In separate statements, observer teams from ECOWAS and the AU, along with the Nigerian government, described the development as “unacceptable” and urged the immediate restoration of democracy. They expressed disappointment that the coup announcement came shortly after holding a meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, a meeting in which both candidates pledged to respect the election results.
The situation in Guinea-Bissau remains tense as diplomatic efforts intensify to secure the release and safe return of all detained leaders and observers.
Advertisement
