Peter Obi of the Labour Party has urged ECOWAS to dialogue with the Niger junta while allowing Nigeriens through their institutions to quickly revert to democracy.

Mr Obi made this call in a series of tweets on Sunday, describing recent political developments in Niger as “a matter of dire and urgent national interest and security to Nigeria.”

“It is therefore important that the people of Niger are allowed via their national institutions the opportunity to revert quickly to a representative democratic government,” said Mr Obi. “All national, regional and international assistance should be extended to the people of Niger to return their country to normalcy.” 

Mr Obi’s statement comes three days after ECOWAS’ leaders charged its standby force to invade Niger to restore constitutional order. The military junta had ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, ignoring entreaties to relinquish power and sanctions from ECOWAS and international communities.

He added, “Niger is a hot-button issue for ECOWAS, as well as various international interlocutors. Regardless of the positions taken by various parties that have direct or tangential interests in Niger, primacy must be given to dialogue and diplomacy towards a resolution with minimal disruptive impact on Nigeria and the West African sub-region.”

President Bola Tinubu, at the meeting where ECOWAS resolved military action in the Niger Republic, said the ongoing political crisis threatened the stability of Nigeria and other West African countries.

However, Nigerians have accused Mr Tinubu of getting involved in the war against the Niger Republic while Nigeria is confronted with internal insecurity and other issues.