The Economic Community of West African States has refuted the authenticity of the transitional proposal for the Republic of Niger on Thursday.
According to a widely circulated allegation, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, who also serves as the leader of the West Africa bloc ECOWAS, proposed a nine-month transition period towards democracy for the newly established government of Niger.
This suggestion draws parallels to Nigeria’s own historical experience in the 1990s, when a similar transition was implemented subsequent to a period of military rule.
However, the Commission expressed its disapproval of the reports as false information in a communication issued through its official X channel.
The bloc expressed its condemnation of the report, written in French and circulating on Agence France-Presse platforms, deeming it to be fraudulent.
The statement read, “The ECOWAS Commission’s attention has been drawn to a report of a so-called ECOWAS proposed transition timeframe for Niger.
“The report, which is in French and supposedly carried by AFP, is false and should be treated as fake news.
“The demand of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government is clear: the military authorities in Niger must restore constitutional order immediately by liberating and reinstating H.E. Excellency President Mohamed Bazoum”.