The Nigerian Senate has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops in Niger Republic to restore democratic rule in the troubled country. Instead, the Senate advised Tinubu and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to pursue a political solution to the crisis.
President Tinubu sought the approval of the Senate to mobilize the Nigerian Army to combat the Nigerien coupists who overthrew their democratically elected president, Mohammed Bazoum. After deliberating on the request, the Senate supported other steps being taken by Nigeria and ECOWAS to reverse the coup but rejected the option of military action in Niger.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, clarified that Tinubu did not seek the approval of the Senate to go to war in Niger Republic but rather expressed a wish to solicit the support of the National Assembly in implementing ECOWAS resolutions.
In his letter to the Senate, Tinubu outlined the measures ECOWAS and Nigeria planned to take to restore democracy in Niger, including military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention if the coupists remained recalcitrant.
The resolutions passed by the Senate were as follows:
- Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other ECOWAS leaders for their prompt response to the situation in Niger Republic.
- Calling on the President of Nigeria and Chairman of ECOWAS to encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options to resolve the political logjam in Niger Republic.
- Supporting ECOWAS leadership under President Tinubu in resolving the political situation in Niger and restoring democratic governance.
- Mandating the leadership of the Senate to engage with the President and commander-in-chief on resolving the issues, considering the existing cordial relationship between Nigeriens and Nigerians.
- Calling on the ECOWAS parliament to condemn the coup and provide solutions to resolve the crisis promptly.
Previously, senators rejected President Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to Niger Republic as part of an ECOWAS force to reinstate the democratically elected president of the country. Tinubu is coordinating ECOWAS’ response to the coup in Niger, including implementing regional sanctions to pressure the coupists to restore democracy.
ECOWAS had given a seven-day ultimatum for the coupists to return power to President Bazoum, who is still detained in the country by the junta. The regional body has also been sending emissaries to the junta to find a solution to the crisis and restore democracy in Niger.
