Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president, has reacted to the reports of a coup attempt against Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum.

Local reports claim that security forces surrounded the president’s office on Wednesday morning, hinting at a coup attempt to oust Bazoum.

Tinubu, who recently became the head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), referred to the incident as unpleasant developments.

FULL TEXT:

UNPLEASANT DEVELOPMENTS IN NIGER REPUBLIC

Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the country’s highest political leadership. It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.

READ ALSO: VP Shettima States Incorrect Statistics as Facts at UN Food Summit in Italy

The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa. I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region. I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.

As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without  equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government July 26, 2023