Former president of Nigeria urges fair June elections in Guinea after political upheavals

Former Nigeria leader urges fair Guinea election

MONROVIA, Liberia — Nigeria’s former president is calling for fair elections in Guinea after recent political upheavals in the small West African country.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo urged Guinea’s interim leaders to not run for office or intimidate voters in the elections scheduled for June 27.

Obasanjo spoke Tuesday while chairing a meeting of West African nations in Liberia. Obasanjo also urged elections in Niger after a February coup.

Guinea’s interim leader said earlier this month that neither he nor any prominent government figures will run for office.

It could be the nation’s first democratic vote, as a coup leader grabbed in power in 2008 and the nation had previously been led by two dictators since gaining independence from France.