Tinubu Backs Direct Election of ECOWAS Parliament Members

President Bola Tinubu, the Chairman of ECOWAS and President of Nigeria, has pledged his support for a proposal to allow citizens of member states to directly elect representatives to the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Tinubu made this statement during the swearing-in of 97 members into the 6th ECOWAS Parliament at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on April 4, 2024.

In his address, Tinubu highlighted the importance of direct elections in promoting democratic principles, which he believes will help ensure that citizens have a more significant say in their representation.

He also emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to supporting the ECOWAS Parliament in achieving its objectives, particularly in the context of the direct election proposal.

The ECOWAS Parliament, established under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993, is composed of 115 seats.

However, only 97 members were sworn in during the ceremony, as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have expressed their intention to leave the bloc.

In addition to his support for direct elections, President Tinubu called on Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to reconsider their stance on leaving the community.

He warned that their exit could have significant consequences for their citizens and the region as a whole.

The swearing-in ceremony saw representatives from various member states take their oaths of office. Nigeria has the highest representation with 35 members, followed by Ghana with eight members.

Other member states, including Benin Republic, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leon, and Togo, each have five representatives.

Meanwhile, Senegal and Guinea have six representatives each, and Cote d’Ivoire has seven representatives.

As the situation unfolds, the direct election proposal is likely to become a significant point of discussion among ECOWAS member states, with President Tinubu’s support potentially influencing the future direction of the community’s political structure.