The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a stark warning that the stability of democracy across the entire West African sub-region hinges heavily on Nigeria’s democratic survival.
ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, delivered the message on Monday in Abuja at the launch of the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) — a new initiative targeted at reversing the growing wave of democratic decline on the continent.
Touray, represented by ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, said democracy in West Africa is “under severe strain,” warning that Nigeria’s collapse would trigger a domino effect across the region.
“Make no mistake, if democracy falters in Nigeria, democracy will collapse elsewhere in the entire West African region,” he said, according to Hobnob News.
‘Four-Year Tenure Not Enough for Real Progress’
Musah argued that the four-year presidential term common in countries like Nigeria and Ghana is inadequate for deep democratic reforms or sustained development.
“Practically speaking, four years is not enough even to initiate major developmental programmes,” he noted, calling for a regional dialogue on tenure limits and governance structures.
He listed unconstitutional changes of government, judicial interference, exclusion of opposition parties and weakened institutions as key drivers of the current democratic backslide.
Democracy Under Threat from Coups, Fake News and Insecurity
The ECOWAS Commissioner highlighted a surge in attempted and successful military coups, sit-tight leaders, global geopolitical tensions and the rise of AI-powered misinformation as major destabilizing factors.
He warned that while security is crucial, “regime protection cannot replace democracy and development,” arguing that governance built on repression would “collapse like an edifice on sandy foundations.”
Musah said the new Regional Partnership for Democracy — developed by Nigeria, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Federal Government — comes at a defining moment when the social contract between African governments and their citizens is “unravelling.”
Nigeria Unveils ‘Africa-Rooted’ Democratic Framework
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, described the initiative as a bold and timely response to what he called “the sobering and complex challenges” confronting governance in Africa.
He warned that despite existing frameworks, democratic systems remain under strain due to political violence, exclusion of citizens from decision-making, impunity among officeholders and weakened judicial and media institutions.
Tuggar criticized the wholesale adoption of foreign governance models, saying they often clash with Africa’s cultural, social and historical realities, resulting in “democratic stagnation and institutional fragility.”
He described the RPD as an African-owned solution built on the principle that democracy thrives when aligned with African values and local contexts.
“This framework is more than a policy instrument; it is President Bola Tinubu’s contribution — Nigeria’s gift — to strengthening democracy in Africa,” Tuggar said.
UNDP: ‘The Future of African Democracy Must Be Home-Grown’
UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, hailed the partnership as a symbol of African-led democratic renewal, describing it as “a compact of values” that signals the continent’s readiness to lead its own transformation.
She identified four pillars of the programme:
stronger public institutions and accountability;
inclusive democratic participation;
credible elections;
and enhanced regional cooperation.
“The answers to Africa’s deepest challenges lie within Africa itself,” she said.
A Region in Crisis
West Africa has faced a sharp rise in democratic instability over the last decade, marked by coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger since 2020.
Concerns persist over manipulated term limits, shrinking civic space, electoral malpractice and rising violent extremism — especially in the Sahel, where ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates continue to expand.
ECOWAS has imposed sanctions, suspended member states, and pushed for transition timelines, but stability remains fragile.
The new RPD initiative aims to tackle these issues by strengthening electoral institutions, improving early-warning systems, countering disinformation, expanding youth participation and promoting long-term democratic resilience across the region.
