Senate votes against military action in Niger, asks Tinubu to use diplomacy

The upper chamber called on ECOWAS Parliament to rise to the occasion by equally condemning the coup and also proffer solutions to resolve the impasse quickly.

President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio announced the resolutions on Saturday after a closed-door meeting which lasted for about two hours.

It was reported that  President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by his presidential guards on July 26 2023.

Akpabio said: “We discussed on President Bola Tinubu, who also doubles as Chairman of ECOWAS, request for support in the implementation of the resolutions of ECOWAS on the political situation in Nigeria and resolve as follows.

“The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the President and Commander in Chief on behalf of the Senate and National Assembly on how best to resolve the issues.

“This is in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Nigerians and Niger

“The Senate commends President Bola Tinubu and other Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS for their prompt response and the positions taken on the unfortunate development in Niger Republic.

“The Senate recognises the fact that President Tinubu by virtue of his correspondence had not asked for the approval of the parliament or approval of this Senate to go to war as been erroneously suggested in some quarters.“

The Senate President also said that the Senate condemned in totality the military coup that took place recently in Niger

It was reported that Tinubu had in a letter to the Senate on Friday, conveyed the decisions of ECOWAS on the recent military intervention in Niger.

ECOWAS decision is contained in a letter addressed to President of Senate and read at plenary on Friday.

“I do have the honour to inform you, that following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in overthrow of the administration of His excellency President Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July 2023.

The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), under my leadership condemns the coup in its entirety and resolved alongside other members of the international community to seek return of a democratic elected government in Niger,” the letter stated.