Leaders across West Africa have cautioned that democratic governance in the sub-region must begin to deliver tangible results for citizens, warning that growing instability and public dissatisfaction are placing increasing strain on political systems.
The concerns were raised at the opening of the 2026 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament held in Abuja, where regional lawmakers convened against a backdrop of insecurity, democratic reversals and economic pressures.
Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the sustainability of democracy in West Africa now hinges on its capacity to deliver improved security, economic stability and public welfare.
While noting that citizens continue to reject military rule, Abbas warned that confidence in democratic systems is eroding due to poor governance outcomes and rising socio-economic hardship. He pointed to declining voter trust, weak institutions and recurring unconstitutional changes of government as indicators of deeper structural challenges.
“The issue is not whether democracy remains the preferred system, but whether it is delivering sufficiently to sustain that preference,” he said, cautioning that governance failures could further fuel instability.
Abbas also called for the strengthening of the ECOWAS Parliament, arguing that its current advisory status limits its effectiveness in responding to regional crises. He advocated reforms to enhance its legislative authority, oversight functions and enforcement mechanisms for regional agreements.
He further defended Nigeria’s recent economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, describing them as necessary measures undertaken within a democratic framework. According to him, early outcomes indicate increased fiscal inflows to subnational governments and improved capacity for infrastructure and social investment, despite ongoing challenges.
In a separate address, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, emphasised that peace in the region cannot be imposed but must be deliberately built through sustained dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect.
She noted that West Africa is navigating a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, stressing that no region is immune to the spread of global instability.
“The message must be clear: peace cannot be decreed — it must be patiently built through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect,” she said.
Ibrahima also disclosed that the regional bloc is undertaking a strategic reassessment of its future direction, with a focus on strengthening integration and resilience. She announced that the upcoming ECOWAS Future Summit, slated for May 21 in Lomé, will centre on advancing the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050.
The summit is expected to examine pathways for adapting regional integration to emerging political, economic and security realities.
Both leaders, speaking separately, converged on the need to reinforce democratic legitimacy through effective governance while actively building peace through regional cooperation. They warned that without stronger institutions, improved service delivery and deeper collaboration, West Africa risks further democratic setbacks and prolonged instability.
Deliberations continue at the session as lawmakers explore strategies to strengthen democratic resilience and regional integration across the sub-region.
