Tinubu Throws Weight Behind Direct Election Into ECOWAS Parliament

Tinubu Throws Weight Behind Direct Election Into ECOWAS Parliament

President Bola Tinubu has pledged his support for a proposal advocating the direct election of members into the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Tinubu, who serves as the Chairman of ECOWAS, made this commitment on Thursday during the swearing-in ceremony of 97 members into the 6th ECOWAS parliament at the International Conference Centre in Abuja…..READ ALSO Here Is Full Text Of Tinubu’s Speech After Signing Student Loan Bill

In his address, the Nigerian leader emphasized that direct elections would provide citizens of member states with the opportunity to elect their representatives, thus enhancing democratic principles. He assured the newly sworn-in members of the ECOWAS Parliament of Nigeria’s unwavering support in achieving their objectives.

“As a former legislator myself, I eagerly await the proposal concerning this matter. We are in favor of direct elections into the ECOWAS parliament,” he affirmed. “The practice of directly electing public officials is consistent with democratic principles, which Nigeria upholds. This principle also aligns with the ECOWAS protocol on democracy and good governance.”

Tinubu stressed that direct elections would empower citizens to have a direct say in their representation, ensuring legitimacy and credibility. Additionally, he appealed to Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to reconsider their decision to exit ECOWAS, warning of potential consequences for their citizens and the region at large.

The ECOWAS Parliament, established under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993, consists of 115 seats. Each member state is guaranteed a minimum of five seats, with the remaining 40 seats allocated based on population. However, only 97 members were sworn in on Thursday, representing various member states.

These include 35 members from Nigeria, and five each from Benin Republic, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Additionally, eight members hail from Ghana, seven from Cote d’Ivoire, and six each from Senegal and Guinea. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso currently have no representation in the sixth parliament, as they have expressed their intention to withdraw from the bloc.

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