ECOWAS : Buhari Denounces Constitutional Violations

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has called on West African Head of States to stop elongating their tenure in office beyond constitutional limits, saying it is becoming a source of trouble. Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja said, President Buhari made the appeal while presenting Nigeria’s General Statement at the 57th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS heads of state and Government in Niamey, Niger on Monday, September 7, 2020.
"It is important that as leaders of our individual member-states of ECOWAS, we adhere to the constitutional provisions of our countries, particularly on term limits. This is one area that generates crisis and political tension in our sub-region," Buhari said.
He added that, “Related to this call for restraint is the need to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. This must be the bedrock for democracy to be sustained in our sub-region, just as the need for adherence to the rule of law”.
The comments comes on the heels of a decision by Ivory Coast's President, Alassane Ouattara who after amending the constitution and hand-peaking his late Prime Minister, Gon Coulibaly to succeed him, later made U-turn by declaring his candidacy. The declaration has triggered protests in Ivory Coast as his critics say the move is unconstitutional.
Similar case with Guinea-Conakry's President, Alpha Conde who after also serving a two-term as the constitution stipulates, decided to modify the country’s constitution through a referendum...