During discussions, several senators pointed out that the United States African command already maintains a base in Niger Republic, rendering Nigeria's troop deployment unnecessary. Some lawmakers expressed concerns that such a move could be seen as an attempt to appease Western countries, including the United States.
An insider from the Senate session confirmed that the senators opposed both sending soldiers and the Nigerian government's decision to cut off power supply to Niger Republic as a response to the coup.
Speaking at an open session, the Senate President stated that the Senate collectively condemned the coup in Niger Republic and praised President Tinubu, as well as other ECOWAS Heads of State, for their prompt response. It was emphasized that Tinubu's correspondence did not seek approval for a declaration of war but rather sought support for implementing the ECOWAS communique.
The Senate leadership was directed to engage with President Tinubu to find ways to resolve the situation through political means rather than military action. As Chairman of ECOWAS, Tinubu was urged to work with leaders to strengthen political strategies in order to address the political turmoil in Niger.
Furthermore, the Senate called on the ECOWAS Parliament to denounce the military coup in Niger and work towards resolving the crisis through diplomatic channels, rather than resorting to military force.
In a related development, the Northern Senators Forum also condemned the coup in Niger but rejected the proposal for military intervention against the ruling junta. They advocated for a diplomatic approach, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic channels to address the situation and maintain stability in the region.
