Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi has slammed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for applying double standards by swiftly suspending Guinea-Bissau over its military coup while ignoring technological disruptions in elections like Nigeria's 2023 polls. In a statement titled "Reflecting on the ‘Coup Glitches’ in Guinea-Bissau," Obi questioned ECOWAS's selective outrage, noting the bloc's rapid condemnation of the November 26, 2025, electoral interruption dubbed a "military-arranged glitch" despite former President Goodluck Jonathan's observation of a peaceful vote awaiting results announcement.
Obi highlighted the irony, asking why ECOWAS condemns visible coups with guns but overlooks "designed technological failures" that subvert democracy, suppress citizens' rights, and erode trust in electoral systems across West Africa. He described both military takeovers and technical glitches as "two faces of the same crisis," where ballots are obstructed by force or convenience, ultimately harming people, undermining democracy, and fueling regional instability.
The former Anambra governor urged ECOWAS to hold all nations accountable for electoral interference, emphasizing that true democracy requires transparency, accountability, and respect for the people's will to ensure stable progress.