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CSOs Urge ECOWAS to Adopt Dialogue to Address Affected Countries
The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to pursue immediate dialogue with the affected countries and lift all sanctions, paving the way for genuine reconciliation.
The CSOs also urged the authorities of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to rescind their decisions to withdraw from ECOWAS for obvious beneficial reasons. State and non-state actors in the region should intensify engagements towards ensuring a more united ECOWAS.
These recommendations were outlined in a communique signed by Kop’ep Dabugat – West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) – Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Solomon Adoga – Transition Monitoring (TMG), Patience Ikpeh-Obaulo – West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Nigeria), Ayo Adebusoye – Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGOs), Sina Odugbemi – Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), and Ezeobi Chiemelie – Thisday Newspaper at the CSOs and media interactive meeting on the State of ECOWAS and regional integration in West Africa in Lagos on Monday.
According to the communique, ECOWAS should collaborate with the authorities in these countries to urgently adopt transition plans with a clear roadmap for a quick restoration of democratic order.
The communique read in part:”We urge the military authorities in the affected countries to refrain from attempts to transform themselves from military to civil rulers.
“ECOWAS should work with the authorities in these countries to ensure free, fair, and credible elections. We urge CSOs and the media to engage positively and ensure electoral transparency, popular participation, and inclusion in the electoral process.
“In the spirit of the ideals of ECOWAS VISION 2050, we call on ECOWAS to expedite the review of the ECOWAS supplementary protocol on good governance to prevent tenure elongation, electoral manipulation, and rigging, and to curb unconstitutional changes of government.
“With the adoption of Vision 2050, ECOWAS Parliament should begin to have elective representatives rather than appointive representation. This will contribute to making it a truly ECOWAS of the peoples.
“ECOWAS should operationalize the consultative aspects of the functions of the ECOWAS National Units to ensure connection with the citizens of Member States in the implementation of ECOWAS Agreements at the national levels, in line with the spirit of the ECOWAS Vision 2050.
“Civil society and the media should embark on peace missions to consult key stakeholders in the affected countries to provide support towards a quick return to constitutional democracy.
“ECOWAS, civil society, and the media should demand a quick, transparent, inclusive, free, fair, and credible election in Senegal as earlier scheduled. They should also condemn the arbitrary arrest and banning of political opposition from contesting the election.
“After successful resolution with the aggrieved countries, ECOWAS should support the member countries in strengthening their capacity to respond to present and emerging threats, including the activation of early warning and response capabilities.”
The Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team, in collaboration with the Umuda Isingwu Ministers’ Forum, has announced the 2025 Resurrection Power Prayer Summit.
Themed “Breaking ‘Thou Shall Not Excel’ Curses and Evil Pronouncements,” the summit is scheduled to take place from Tuesday, 1 April to Friday, 4 April 2025, at St James Methodist Church, Umuda Isingwu, Canaan Circuit, Umuahia Diocese.
The event will commence at 6pm daily, with a special Night of Praise and ‘Pray Your Way Through’ on the final day at 10pm.
Speaking ahead of the summit, the Chief Host and Presbyter of St James Methodist Church, the Very Rev Chidiebere Okeke, emphasised that the gathering aims to commemorate the 40-day Lenten period leading up to Easter while celebrating the power of resurrection.
He highlighted that the programme will focus on deliverance from spiritual captivity, family barriers, foundational faults, salvation, and healing.
Rev Okeke also revealed that the interdenominational event will feature prominent Christian ministers, including Rev Zion Onuzuruike, as well as local church mass choirs from Umuda Isingwu and gospel artists from within and beyond the community.
He urged believers to participate, stating that the summit offers an opportunity for spiritual transformation, divine encounters, and breakthroughs.
Apostle Chuks Alozie, the convener of the event, underscored the importance of prayer in reconnecting the people of Umuda Isingwu to God.
He explained that the four-day event was strategically planned during the Lenten season to provide a platform for deep spiritual engagement.
“Prayer is a powerful tool for transformation. This summit is an opportunity for Christians to experience God’s presence through prayer and obedience to His word,” Apostle Alozie said.
He invited all believers and members of the public to participate in what he described as a “spirit-filled” gathering that promises to change lives and inspire renewed faith.
Several religious leaders and ministries are expected to grace the event, including Rev Zion Onuzuruike of Assemblies of God Church, Rev Raphael Umeanadi of The United Church of Christ, Rev Jackson O. Okoro (JP) of Zion Revival Ministry, and Apostle John Enelamah of Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries.
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Controversy As Wike, Agim, S’court Judge Who Read Verdict For Rivers Crisis, Attend UNICAL Event
The presence of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and Emmanuel Agim, a judge of the supreme court, at the convocation ceremony of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has stirred controversy.
On Saturday, UNICAL held its 50th anniversary and 37th convocation ceremony.
Pictures from the event that appeared on social media show Wike sitting in the front row alongside Agim and Ekaette Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The pictures have generated reactions from social media users considering that Agim was the judge who read the supreme court judgment pertaining to the Rivers political crisis.
On February 28, the supreme court affirmed the judgment of a federal high court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.
The apex court had ordered the CBN to withhold Rivers’ financial allocations until Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state, presented the state appropriation bill to the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the assembly.
The supreme court also nullified the local government election held in Rivers state on October 5, 2024.
The judgment of the supreme court had given advantage to the Amaewhule-led faction, which is loyal to Wike.
The political crisis in Rivers had snowballed into a declaration of state of emergency in the state by President Bola Tinubu and suspension of the Fubara and the state assembly for six months.
During the convocation ceremony, the university’s authorities honoured Wike with an honorary doctorate degree in law.
In a statement on Monday, Akande Festus, the director of information and public relations at the supreme court, said the comment that Agim accompanied Wike to the ceremony was “misleading and false”.
Festus said the participation of the supreme court judge at the ceremony was independent, noting that Agim was an esteemed honouree and an alumnus of the institution.
“Hon. Justice Agim attended the convocation as an esteemed honouree and an alumnus of the institution, whom the governing council had found worthy to be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law (Doctor Honoris Causa),” the statement reads.
“He was recognized for his significant contributions to the legal profession, which is a reflection of his commitment to justice, integrity, and the rule of law, serving as a model for aspiring legal professionals and students alike.
“Hon. Justice Agim was scheduled to attend the burial ceremony of Hon. Justice Stanley Alagoa alongside other Hon. Justices of the Supreme Court in Bayelsa State but sought permission to go for the convocation ceremony.
“We wish to emphasize that Justice Emmanuel Agim’s participation at the ceremony was independent and not as an official representative of any government ministry or department, let alone accompanying any serving or retired government official.
“Any insinuation to the contrary is not only inaccurate but undermines the judicial independence that is crucial to our democracy.”
Some constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District have submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the recall of Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, the suspended lawmaker representing the district in the National Assembly.
The petition, presented by Charity Ijese, on behalf of the constituents, was received at the INEC headquarters, by the Commission’s Secretary, Rose Anthony, on Monday, March 24, 2025.
The petition was titled, ‘Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence’.
The constituents said, “In particular, this petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.”
They affirmed that Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged by virtue of an Appeal Court decision in October 2023 but said the petition arose as a result of their loss of confidence in her representation.
“This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator on the grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behaviour that has not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central but has also tarnished the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our nation’s democratic institutions.
“By this petition, which we have made sure is signed by more than half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, we hereby demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately commence the constitutional and procedural process of recall to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant,” the constituents said.
The female federal lawmaker was involved in a seat arrangement dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The lawmaker accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office. The Senate subsequently suspended her for six months for misconduct.