Disturbed by the incessant military coups in the West Africa sub-region, Abuja School of Political Thought of School (ASSPT) and Save Democracy Group West Africa have resolved to raise the West Africa Democracy Observatory to provide scientific thinking and ideas for policymakers.
They blame the instability on the failure of democracy to transform, enable and empower the people.The groups also expressed concern about the postponement of the presidential election in Senegal.
Speaking at a policy dialogue with the theme, ‘Democracy and the Future of ECOWAS, organised by the groups, yesterday, in Abuja, the Executive Director of ASSPT, Dr Sam Amadi, observed that the failure of democracy in Africa was a lapse of development and human welfare, adding that the geopolitics of West Africa require more democratisation.
He said: “We have seen the failure of democracy in others globally, but the one in Africa is existential because elsewhere it creates room for dialogue, but here it runs into violent reactions, coups and diminishing the quality of life of people of West Africa.”
Besides, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) has faulted the postponement of the highly anticipated presidential election in Senegal originally billed for February 25.
The organisation said the decision represents a “clear violation of the rule of law and democratic rights of the Senegalese people.” It, therefore, urged the Senegalese government to respect the sanctity of the democratic process.
Noting that elections are the foundation of democracy, the organisation, in a statement yesterday, underscored the utmost importance of upholding the rule of law, transparency, credibility and fairness.
