The Presidency has refuted claims circulating in some media outlets that President Bola Tinubu stepped down as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the end of his first tenure. Reacting to the reports, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, condemned the dissemination of what he termed as fake news, highlighting the detrimental impact of misinformation in society.
Olusegun particularly criticized a news outlet for failing to retract or correct its erroneous report on Tinubu’s status as ECOWAS chairman. He emphasized the rampant spread of fake news as a pressing issue that needs urgent attention.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has been re-elected as ECOWAS Chairman for another term, reaffirming his leadership role within the regional bloc. The re-election took place during the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government hosted by Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The decision to extend Tinubu’s mandate, as disclosed by Special Adviser to the President Ajuri Ngelale, aims to ensure continuity in achieving goals related to security, reconciliation, and development across West Africa. Tinubu initially assumed the chairmanship in July 2023, following his election in Guinea-Bissau.