The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has re-elected President Bola Tinubu as its chairman.
News About Nigeria reports that it’s about one year after he took over the regional bloc’s leadership.
The Nigerian leader who rose to power in May 2023 was re-elected as the ECOWAS chairman during the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The event is taking place at the Presidential Villa in Nigeria’s Abuja capital.
Tinubu, whose first tenure is to elapse on July 9, 2024, was elected by a unanimous decision of fellow Heads of Government at the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority held at the State House, Abuja, on Sunday.
In his acceptance speech, the President said, “I have accepted to continue to deliver on this service with the great men and women on this democratic journey, to serve our interest and build democratic values on the structure we inherited.”
Presidency sources had told journalists on Saturday night that Tinubu may be elected for another term.
“Some people say he should hand over, and others say he should continue. But they will decide tomorrow,” said the source, who preferred to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak on the issue.
Tinubu was elected Chairman of the Authority at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the regional bloc held last July in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau.
Speaking during their summit in Niamey on Saturday, Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tchiani described ECOWAS as a threat to the military-led countries.
He said the three countries would run an alliance free of foreign influence for their people.
Burkina Faso had its coup, toppling the civil democracy in place, in September 2022; Mali in August 2021; and Niger in July 2023
