The ECOWAS Parliament witnessed a significant leadership transition on Thursday as Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president of Nigeria, was appointed as the acting speaker of the sub-regional parliament. The nomination took place during the inaugural session of the sixth Legislature of the Parliament held in Abuja.
In addition to his role as acting speaker, Mr. Jibrin was also elected as the first deputy speaker of the body. Other deputy speakers elected include Adjaratou Coulibaly from Cote D’Ivoire, Alexander Afenyo-Markin from Ghana, and Billay Tunkara from Gambia.
The appointment of Mr. Jibrin comes after the absence of the delegation from the Republic of Togo during the inauguration ceremony. According to the rotational system established by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the speaker’s position was initially slated for Togo. In the absence of Togolese representation, Edwin Snowe JR from Liberia was elected as the temporary speaker to oversee the inaugural session and conduct the election of deputy speakers.
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Following the inauguration, Mr. Snowe announced that Nigeria’s deputy senate president would act as the speaker of the Parliament until the Togolese delegation is inaugurated. President Bola Tinubu, chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, graced the opening ceremony and urged member countries to unite and promote regional integration.
The ECOWAS Parliament serves as a vital institution within the ECOWAS framework, fostering dialogue, consultation, and consensus among representatives of West African nations. Established under the ECOWAS revised treaty of 1993, the Parliament comprises 115 seats and plays a crucial role in advancing the integration agenda across the region.
