The West African Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) and other partners, have urged the Economic Community of West African (ECOWAS) to embark on reforms including institutionalizing presidential term limits to curb tenure elongation and its negative effects on the region.
WADEMOS in collaborations with Tournons La Page (TLP) and Afrikajom made the call in Abuja at a panel discussion supported by OXFAM and Open Society Foundation, amidst the ECOWAS Heads of States Summit hosted by Nigeria in Abuja.
National Coordinator, Tournons La Page-Togo, Prof. David Dosseh, said that the meeting was aimed at urging ECOWAS to acknowledge the plea of citizens to institutionalise and to implement the principle of limitation of mandates.
He said that the issue had been going round for more than a decade and that ordinary citizens no longer understand what is delaying the adoption of such a provision and why leaders hold on to power after their mandates.
He said that the reform was obligatory as a partial reform that limits only the mandates of some and not that of others and authorising them to remain in power in eternity is harmful and would disqualify the regional institution.
He noted that ECOWAS would celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025 and that it would be an opportunity to operate a profound and structural reform to consolidate democracy and guarantee more efficiency in democracy.
Also, Regional Advocacy Officer and ECOWAS Liaison Lead WADEMOS, Mr Austin Aigbe, said that Africa has witnessed 26 successful military coups between 2002 to 2023.
He said that half of the coups occurred in the ECOWAS region, as there were 10 successful military coups between 2019 to 2024 in seven countries in Africa and six of them took place in West Africa.
“There is a need for ECOWAS to address the issue decisively and prioritise it during its summit on Dec. 15 to ensure the stability and democratic integrity of the Economic Community,” he said.
Aigbe urged ECOWAS to incorporate explicit clauses that render any amendments regarding term limits or tenure irrelevant to current officeholders.
He said, “The ECOWAS should declare illegal term elongation a constitutional coup. Any constitutional manipulation in favour of a sitting head of state should be deemed a constitutional coup and classified as an unconstitutional change of government (UCG).”
On her part, Project Coordinator, WADEMOS, Ms Marie-Josiane Ngah, said the network had been at the forefront of the campaign against term elongation and for the institutionalisation of the presidential term limits across the region.
She said the meeting holds a great significance given the persistent challenges facing ECOWAS in upholding democracy and maintaining regional integration.
“The ongoing threats to democratic governance, coupled with the potential exit of the Sahelian countries, pose serious risks to our collective vision for the region.
“Such an exit could disrupt the progress towards building an ECOWAS of the people, a vision that prioritizes grassroots inclusion, democratic accountability, and shared prosperity,” she said.
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