The ECOWAS Parliament has opened its 2026 First Ordinary Session in Abuja with strong calls for democratic accountability, regional stability and accelerated integration across West Africa.
Declaring the session open, Speaker of the Parliament, Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, said democracy remains the “unshakeable foundation” of the Community, while urging member states to uphold constitutional order and strengthen governance systems.
She raised concern over insecurity in the region, condemning recent terrorist attacks in Mali and calling for sustained efforts to build peace through dialogue and cooperation.
“We are meeting at a time when the international environment is marked by tensions and violent conflicts… no region is immune,” she said, warning that global crises are driving inflation and worsening economic pressures across West Africa.
Nigeria’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, warned that democracy in the region must begin to deliver tangible results or risk collapse.
“The concern is no longer limited to the conduct of elections… it extends to whether democratic governance is producing outcomes that citizens can recognise and trust,” Abbas said.
He noted declining public trust, low voter participation, and increasing unconstitutional changes of government as signs of deep institutional weaknesses.
Also speaking, Speaker of The Gambia’s National Assembly, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, described the region as facing “a moment of profound consequence,” citing terrorism, democratic strain, and economic challenges.
He called for stronger parliamentary diplomacy to sustain dialogue and unity within the bloc, stressing that regional integration must move beyond treaties to practical implementation.
The session comes ahead of the planned ECOWAS Future Summit in Lomé, which is expected to review the bloc’s Vision 2050 strategy and reposition regional integration efforts.
Lawmakers are expected to deliberate on key issues including security, trade, artificial intelligence, tax harmonisation, and women’s economic empowerment, alongside reviewing reports on democracy, human rights, and development across member states.
The Parliament said it aims to produce “bold resolutions” to address the region’s challenges and strengthen its role as a platform for democratic oversight and citizen engagement.
Sandra Chukwugekwu
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