As President Bola Tinubu’s term as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS nears its end on July 9, 2024, leaders from 12 member states will gather at Abuja’s State House Conference Centre for an Extraordinary Summit on July 8.
The meeting, set to commence at 11:00 am, is expected to involve discussions on selecting a new chairman to guide the bloc over the coming year, according to The PUNCH. However, there are indications that leaders may consider extending Tinubu’s tenure to allow him more time to potentially bring Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso back into the fold of the bloc.
A source within the Presidency, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to comment, shared, “There are differing views on whether he should step down or continue. The decision will be made tomorrow.”
Tinubu was elected as Chair of the Authority during the 63rd Ordinary Session of the regional bloc held last July in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau’s capital. During his acceptance speech, Tinubu highlighted his commitment to democratic principles. “We are committed to upholding democracy. Democracy is challenging, but it is the cornerstone of governance,” he remarked upon receiving the handover from Guinea-Bissau’s outgoing President, Umaro Embaló.
Throughout his tenure, Tinubu has focused on addressing the critical issues of insecurity and the rise of military coups in the region, urging concerted efforts from all member states to tackle these challenges. Despite these efforts, the region has continued to face significant instability.
Shortly after Tinubu assumed office, Niger Republic, Nigeria’s northern neighbor, experienced a coup d’état. This event led to the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum by his own guards under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tchiani, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing ECOWAS in maintaining democratic governance and stability in the region.
