MADI Accuses ECOWAS Commission President of Abuse of Office, Warns of Diplomatic Fallout

A Nigerian civil society organisation has levelled serious allegations against the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, in a development that may add new strain to relations between Nigeria and The Gambia.

In a statement released in Abuja, the Make A Difference Initiative (MADI) accused Dr. Touray of overstepping his authority by withdrawing powers earlier delegated to the Nigerian ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Services, Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma. The group says the decision was made on the grounds of alleged insubordination but without regard for the disciplinary procedures laid out in the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol.

According to Articles 18 and 19 of the protocol, only the ECOWAS Council of Ministers—not the Commission President—has the power to discipline Commissioners. Professor Darma has since taken the matter before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, where the legality of the President’s action will be contested.

Concerns Over Representation and Balance of Power

MADI further claimed that Dr. Touray attempted to allocate Commissioner-level duties to a Gambian national appointed from his office. Such a move, the group argues, would effectively give The Gambia two Commissioner positions, contradicting the ECOWAS principle of fair geopolitical representation.

The organisation expressed fears that this could fuel perceptions of preferential treatment towards The Gambia and erode the goodwill between Abuja and Banjul. Nigeria currently contributes close to 90 percent of ECOWAS’s financial and logistical resources, making it a major stakeholder in the bloc’s governance.

Beyond the immediate dispute, MADI warned of what it called a “growing concentration of power” at the Commission’s top level. Both the Commission President and the Director of Cabinet—considered one of the most strategically important offices—are Gambian nationals. The group said this pattern, coupled with heightened political tensions across West Africa and the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the bloc, could weaken the institution’s stability and international credibility.

Call for Gambian Government Action

In a direct message to Banjul, the organisation urged the Gambian government to step in and ensure that the matter does not escalate further.

“It may be necessary to rein in or, if required, recall Dr. Touray to protect its reputation, preserve bilateral goodwill and uphold the integrity of ECOWAS,” MADI stated.

The civil society body outlined six key demands, including the withdrawal of the memo issued against Commissioner Darma, restoration of his delegated powers, a halt to what it described as interference in the judicial process, and a broader review of governance practices within the Commission.

“ECOWAS cannot demand constitutional order from member states while violating constitutional order within its own leadership structure,” the group cautioned.

Issue Expected at December ECOWAS Meetings

According to reports by The Authority newspaper, the dispute is expected to feature prominently during the upcoming ECOWAS ministerial meetings scheduled for December in Abuja.

As of the time of publication, Dr. Touray has not issued a response to the allegations.

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