Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Ecowas Suspends Niger Republic
Abuja — The authority of the Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday suspended Niger Republic as one of its members.
In a bid to take the lead in resolving problems in member states, the government of President Mamadou Tandja of Niger was suspended for its failure to heed the decision of the Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State held in Abuja on Saturday October 17, 2009 to postpone the legislative elections in that country to allow for more dialogue.
A statement by the Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, on behalf of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the current ECOWAS Chairman, explained that, "The holding of the elections today in total disregard of the authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and government is a clear move by the authorities in Niger to furather entrench the constitutional illegality currently prevailing in the country."
Accordingly, the statement said: "The Republic of Niger is therefore suspended from ECOWAS until constitutional legality is reinstated."
CREDIT – allAfrica.com