Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of applying double standards in defending democracy, condemning military interference in Guinea-Bissau while ignoring technological subversion of elections in the region.
In a strongly worded post on his verified X handle on Sunday, Obi questioned the regional bloc’s selective outrage following last week’s controversial events in Guinea-Bissau.
“ECOWAS was quick to sanction Guinea-Bissau, but what does ECOWAS do when democracy is subverted, not by soldiers, but by technology,” he wrote.
Obi referenced the November 27 press briefing by former President Goodluck Jonathan, who led the ECOWAS election observation mission to Guinea-Bissau.
“I listened carefully to the press briefing of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, as the former President… noted that the so-called coup appeared suspicious.
“Suspicious especially 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 the only remaining step being the formal announcement of the results,” Obi said.
The ex-Anambra governor insisted that any form of electoral disruption — military or technological — must face equal condemnation.
He argued that “glitches of any type should be condemned, as they undermine democracy,” in an apparent reference to disputed technological failures during elections in Nigeria and other West African countries.
Obi’s statement has reignited debate over ECOWAS’s consistency in upholding democratic principles across member states.
