President Bola Tinubu did not attend the ECOWAS leaders’ meeting held in Abuja on Sunday, where heads of state discussed regional security concerns, including a recent coup attempt in the Republic of Benin.
Nigeria was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, which took place at the State House Conference Centre.
The session marked the first time Shettima led Nigeria’s delegation at an ECOWAS summit hosted in the country while the president remained in Nigeria.
Tinubu, who served as ECOWAS chairman from July 2023 to July 2025 before handing over to Sierra Leone’s President Julius Bio, delegated Shettima to attend the meeting. Authorities did not provide an official explanation for the president’s absence.
Proceedings began around 3:00 pm and included a special debate focused on the future of the regional bloc, according to the draft agenda. President Bio, the current ECOWAS chair, presided over the summit.
Other leaders in attendance included Patrice Talon of Benin, José Maria Neves of Cabo Verde, Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, Adama Barrow of The Gambia, John Mahama of Ghana, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Joseph Boakai of Liberia, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, and Faure Gnassingbé of Togo.
The opening ceremony featured remarks from the host country, a statement by ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray, and an address by Bio.
Leonardo Santos Simão, head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and Bankole Adeoye, the African Union commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, were also listed to speak.
Key issues slated for discussion included the 2025 State of the Community report, briefings from the mediation and security council, and updates on the ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme.
Leaders were also expected to review the security situation in Benin, as well as political developments in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea.
The summit follows an attempted coup in Benin Republic on December 7, 2025, amid growing instability across parts of West Africa.
