Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed the recent political upheaval in Guinea-Bissau as a “ceremonial coup” orchestrated by President Umaro Embaló to undermine democratic governance.

Speaking at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, Jonathan urged ECOWAS to intervene and ensure the presidential election results are released, despite the military’s claim of control.

Jonathan, part of a joint election observer mission deployed by the African Union, ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum, thanked Nigerians for their concern during the tense period. He also praised Presidents Bola Tinubu and Alassane Ouattara for preparing aircraft to evacuate his delegation when the situation became uncertain.

“What happened was not a coup maybe a ceremonial one. I wouldn’t call it a coup. For want of a better word, maybe it was a ceremonial coup,” Jonathan said. He added that Embaló’s own announcements and use of media during the incident raised doubts about its authenticity.

Reflecting on his long involvement in stabilising Guinea-Bissau, especially between 2011 and 2014, Jonathan expressed disappointment over the developments and emphasised the need for Africa’s leaders to uphold democratic processes.