The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, has urged West African nations to reconsider the standard four-year presidential term, describing it as too short to achieve meaningful development and strengthen democracy.
Speaking at the launch of the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) Programme in Abuja on Monday, November 17, Musah highlighted the challenges facing governance in the region.
Representing ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray, he said, “Take a country like Nigeria or Ghana, where the mandate of a democratically elected president does not exceed four years, and practically speaking, four years is not enough even to initiate major developmental programmes to deal with the core challenges on our continent.
“We need to look at this and then look at the whole issue of tenure limits in West Africa. I think that should also be on the agenda of regional discourse.”
Musah warned that democracy in the sub-region is fragile, noting that the social contract between governments and citizens is weakening due to inadequate infrastructure, limited social safety nets, and insecurity.
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He also cited rising coups, unlawful retention of power, terrorism, and AI-driven misinformation as factors deepening the crisis.
“Regime security cannot be a substitute for democracy and development, as hard security without development will eventually come crashing down as an edifice built on sandy foundations,” he said.
He called on the UNDP to focus on strengthening political parties and reassessing the current model of liberal democracy in West Africa.
The timing of Musah’s remarks comes amid recent debates over presidential term limits.
Benin’s parliament recently extended presidential and legislative terms from five to seven years, while Nigeria in 2024 rejected a proposal for a single six-year presidential term.
The RPD Programme, a collaboration between ECOWAS, the UNDP, and the Nigerian government, aims to promote citizen engagement, enhance governance, and support democratic reforms at a critical moment for West Africa’s political stability.