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ECOWAS Parliament must evolve or risk irrelevance amid falling trust, rising instability – Speaker Abbas warns
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By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has issued a stark warning that democracies across West Africa are under growing pressure to justify themselves through real results or face deepening instability.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Monday, Abbas said the region stands at a critical juncture, marked by declining voter turnout, eroding public confidence, and a worrying return of unconstitutional changes of government.
“This session brings together parliamentary leaders and representatives from across our sub-region at a time when the choices before us are both consequential and immediate.
“The concern is no longer limited to the conduct of elections. It extends to whether democratic governance is producing outcomes that citizens can recognise and trust,” he said.
He pointed to a growing sense of frustration among citizens, noting that although military rule remains widely rejected, patience with democratic systems is wearing thin.
“The issue is not whether democracy remains the preferred system of governance. Evidence across the region continues to show that citizens reject military rule. The issue is whether democratic systems are delivering sufficiently to sustain that preference. This places a premium on performance. Electoral legitimacy must be matched by governance outcomes.
“Security, economic stability, and fairness in public administration are no longer aspirational goals. They are the basis on which citizens evaluate the state’s credibility. Where these are absent, the space for disruption expands. Within this context, the role of the ECOWAS Parliament becomes increasingly important. It must function not only as a deliberative body, but as a platform for aligning democratic practice with the expectations of citizens across member states,” Abbas warned.
The Speaker argued that the ECOWAS Parliament can no longer afford to remain a largely advisory body, urging reforms to strengthen its legislative weight, oversight reach, and role in regional decision-making.
“It is important to acknowledge that this question of relevance is not new. Over the years, there have been sustained efforts within the Community to strengthen the mandate of the Parliament, including proposals to move it from an advisory body towards one with enhanced legislative authority, greater oversight capacity, and a more direct role in regional decisionmaking.
“Discussions around direct elections into the Parliament, expanded budgetary scrutiny, and clearer mechanisms for enforcing Community protocols have reflected a shared recognition that the institution must evolve in line with the demands placed upon it. These efforts have not yet been fully realised.
“However, the current moment makes their urgency clearer. A Parliament with limited influence cannot adequately respond to a region facing democratic reversals, security pressures, and economic uncertainty.
“Strengthening the powers, relevance, and operational capacity of this institution is therefore not a procedural ambition. It is a strategic necessity for regional stability. A more empowered Parliament would enhance accountability within the Community, deepen citizen representation at the regional level, and provide a stronger democratic anchor in times of stress”, he stated.
Abbas also highlighted the pivotal role of national legislatures, describing them as the primary link between governance and the everyday experiences of citizens.
“National parliaments are central to this effort. They are the institutions through which laws are made, executive action is scrutinised, and public resources are allocated. Their effectiveness determines, in practical terms, how citizens experience governance. Where parliaments are active and responsive, democratic systems are strengthened. Where they are passive, institutional balance is weakened.
“In Nigeria, the National Assembly has sought to respond to these responsibilities with a clearer sense of purpose. Under my leadership, the House of Representatives has prioritised legislative productivity, oversight discipline and public engagement.
“Mechanisms have been introduced to expand transparency and access, while legislative interventions have been aligned with national priorities in areas such as economic reform, security and social protection. A specific area of focus has been the strengthening of Parliamentary Friendship Groups.
“These platforms facilitate structured engagement with legislatures in other countries, enabling the exchange of experiences, coordination of positions, and the development of shared approaches to common challenges”, he stated.
Defending Nigeria’s recent economic reforms, Abbas described the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates as difficult but necessary decisions taken within a democratic framework.
“These measures have required adjustment, but they reflect a deliberate approach to reform within a democratic framework. Early indicators suggest that these changes are beginning to yield results.
“Fiscal inflows to states have increased, enabling greater investment in infrastructure and social services. Efforts to strengthen revenue administration and reduce leakages are ongoing.
“In the security sector, coordinated operations have been intensified across multiple regions. While challenges remain, the direction of policy is clear and anchored in constitutional order. The significance of this approach extends beyond Nigeria. It demonstrates that democratic systems can undertake difficult reforms without recourse to extra-constitutional measures.
“This is a critical point in a sub-region where the temptation to substitute constitutional processes with military intervention has re-emerged. Experience shows that such interventions do not resolve underlying governance challenges”, Abbas stressed.
He urged West African legislatures to become more assertive on the global stage, taking cues from regional parliamentary bodies that have expanded their influence beyond advisory roles.
Abbas outlined three priorities for the region: ensuring democratic systems deliver measurable outcomes, strengthening accountability in political leadership, and turning regional agreements into sustained action.
“Parliaments will be central to restoring public confidence in democracy across the sub-region.
“This session of the ECOWAS Parliament provides an opportunity to reinforce that direction. It is an opportunity to align our collective efforts with our citizens’ expectations and strengthen the foundations of democratic governance across West Africa”, he stated.
The Black Market Dollar-to-Naira Exchange Rate for 3rd September 2026 Can Be Accessed Below.
NOTE: The exchange rate changes hourly. It depends on the volume of dollars available and the Demand. This means…you can buy or sell 1 dollar at a certain rate, and the price can change (high or low) within hours.
The exchange rate fluctuates hourly based on the supply and demand of dollars in the market.
What’s the dollar to naira black market today, 3rd September 2026?
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players sell a dollar for ₦1403 and buy at ₦1395 on Thursday, 3rd September, 2026, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Selling Rate ₦1405
Buying Rate ₦1395
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Highest Rate ₦1335
Lowest Rate ₦1326
A Celestial Church of Christ evangelist, Abidemi Odukoya, and his wife, Adenike, have reportedly died in separate circumstances following an alleged domestic altercation at their residence in the Akinode/Ibogun community, Ogun State.
It was learnt that the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, August 25, after the couple allegedly engaged in a domestic dispute that escalated into a physical confrontation.
The altercation reportedly left Adenike unconscious and injured, while her husband allegedly fled the residence.
A former Chairman of the Community Development Association, Adejimi Olawumi, said in a video shared by Arole TV on Wednesday that he was alerted by residents’ cries for help and subsequently found the woman lying in a pool of blood.
Olawumi said, “It was around 1am when I heard my neighbours shouting, ‘thief, thief.’ On my way out, I saw Daniel. I asked him what happened, and he said it was his mum and dad. Then I went to call my neighbours to come out.
“Immediately, we got inside the house and saw the wife in a pool of blood. At that time, there were no vehicles to take her to the hospital.
“The son said he did not see what happened between his mum and dad because he was in the other room. So, we started calling people together.”
Olawumi said members of the CDA subsequently noticed that Odukoya was missing and began searching for him.
According to him, they later learnt that the cleric had been hit by a vehicle in the Ifo area of the state.
He said, “When we saw that we did not see the husband, everyone in the CDA came out to look for him everywhere. We called our area chairman to tell him about the incident.
“Later, we heard that Mr Abidemi had been hit by a car in Ifo. The police took him to the hospital, and we confirmed that he was the one. The CDA then started working on how to bring his remains home.
“We have never heard or seen something like this happen before. We only know that they fight sometimes and settle it among themselves.”
Meanwhile, the late evangelist’s younger sister, in a video circulating online, claimed that the couple had been involved in repeated disagreements before their deaths.
She said the couple had visited her around April following an earlier altercation, adding that the matter was eventually resolved at a police station.
She said, “I have been hearing that they have been fighting for a while now. Around April, they came to my house. He explained everything about how he and his wife fought, and that it was at the police station they settled it.
“I only told them to be patient with each other because it is not right for a husband and wife to fight against each other. They had been fighting for a very long time, and people helped them settle it. And now we just heard that the husband and wife are dead.”
The woman said the family was informed of the incident after one of the siblings received a phone call, adding that arrangements were subsequently made for the remains of the deceased.
The wife was reportedly buried on the day of the incident, while Odukoya was buried on Wednesday, September 2.
In separate footage seen by PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, some clerics were seen performing burial rites over the remains of the evangelist at an undisclosed location.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths, however, remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
When contacted on Wednesday, the deputy spokesman for the state police command, Opeyemi Oluborode, confirmed the incident.
“The police is investigating the incident,” he added. (The PUNCH)
Borno State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Saina Buba, has retracted his controversial remark threatening to cut off the finger of anyone who pointed at government officials.
Buba had, while speaking at the City Boy Movement Empowerment Programme in Maiduguri, earlier in the week, threatened opponents of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He had reportedly declared that citizens who voted for the ruling party would be fed with honey, while those who refused to support them would face physical punishment by caning.
The aggressive rhetoric sparked sharp criticism from various quarters, with civil society groups and political observers warning that the comments threatened public safety, violated democratic norms, and endangered dissenting voices in the state.
Critics argued that such language from a serving public official was unbecoming and posed a direct threat to multi-party democracy.
But the commissioner held a press briefing where he said he had no apology for his comment on the ground that there was no opposition in Borno and no one could fairly accuse him of threatening opponents.
After the briefing, the widespread anger continued, with critics blaming authorities and saying the man showed no remorse.
On Tuesday, the police high command said it had launched a critical probe into the inciting comments made by Buba and two other APC chieftains.
Fielding questions from Defence Correspondents at a joint security briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday, the force spokesman, Anietie Iniedu, described the inciting comments particularly in relation to the electoral process, as “a criminal offence”.
He said, “On the issue of the Senator in Osun State, the Council Chairman in FCT and the Borno Commissioner’s inciting comments, I was part of the team that questioned the distinguished Senator in Osun State.
“The law is very clear when it comes to inciting. It is criminal to incite members of the public, especially as you comment on the electoral process.”
Hours after the comment of the police spokesman, Buba issued a statement to address the controversy.
He expressed regret over the uproar his comments caused and offered an unreserved apology to the people of Borno State.
He said, “In recent days, a comment I made during the empowerment programme organised by the City Boy Movement in Maiduguri has generated considerable concern within the public space.
“I wish to state, unequivocally, that my remark was never intended to harm or violate the fundamental rights of the people of our dear state to freedom of choice and association, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
While noting that he had previously attempted to clarify that the remark was not meant to be taken literally, the commissioner acknowledged the gravity of ongoing public concern, prompting him to issue a formal retraction
Buba added, “I had earlier provided clarification that the comment was not intended to be taken in its literal sense.
“However, in view of the concern it has continued to generate, I am using this medium to retract my earlier statement formally and to apologise to the entire people of Borno State and beyond for any offence it may have caused.
“Let me state in categorical terms that my comment does not in any way represent the ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the administration of His Excellency, Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.
“This administration does not in any way undermine the rights of our citizenry. Rather, the party and the administration continue to uphold and respect every segment of our society, particularly our youth, who have remained steadfast supporters of both the party and the Zulum administration.
“Governor Zulum and the APC have consistently demonstrated a true democratic spirit over the past seven years, and this commitment will remain unwavering to the very end of his tenure.”
See Black Market Dollar to Naira exchange rate today 3rd September 2026
Sad! Pastor, wife found dead after domestic fight
Borno Commissioner backpedals over ‘finger-cutting’ threat as police begin probe
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