Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has renewed his call to strengthen the mandate of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), advocating for its transformation from an advisory body into one with enhanced legislative authority. Speaking at the opening of the First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for 2026 in Abuja, Abbas emphasized the need for greater oversight capacity and a more direct role in regional decision-making.
Call for a Stronger Regional Parliament
Abbas stressed that the parliament must function not only as a deliberative body but as a platform for aligning democratic practice with the expectations of citizens across member states. He acknowledged that the question of relevance is not new, noting that a parliament with limited influence cannot adequately respond to a region facing democratic reversals, security pressures, and economic uncertainty. Strengthening the powers, relevance, and operational capacity of this institution is therefore not a procedural ambition but a strategic necessity for regional stability.
The call for an empowered regional parliament comes amid shaky democratic institutions across the region. Abbas observed that democracy is under close examination, with citizens questioning whether democratic governance produces outcomes they can recognize and trust. He noted declining voter participation and weakened public confidence in several countries, while unconstitutional changes of government signal underlying institutional stress.
ECOWAS Parliament Urges Action on Regional Challenges
Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Parliament called on regional leaders to urgently confront the multifaceted challenges of rising insecurity, fragile democracy, and economic stagnation to deepen integration and economic growth. Speaker of the Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, made the appeal while declaring open the two-week event in Abuja. She urged West African leaders to remain steadfast in defending democracy while responding to growing internal and external pressures, stressing that subregional peace should not be taken for granted.
Ibrahima stated, "Let us make this session a decisive turning point in our efforts to strengthen our democracies and fulfil the promise of effective, visible regional integration for our peoples. Developments within our region reaffirm the view that democracy remains the unshakeable foundation of our Community." She emphasized that democracy is the bedrock of ECOWAS, calling on regional leaders to exercise caution and responsibility in handling emerging threats, particularly in politically fragile member states.
The Speaker further highlighted the region's exposure to terrorism, piracy, cross-border crime, and climate change, describing them as persistent threats requiring coordinated action. She also condemned recent incidents of violence in the region and expressed solidarity with the affected member states.
