Warning From Sam Amadi: More Coups Loom If Underlying Issues Aren’t Addressed

Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, has warned that coup attempts in West Africa are likely to continue if the conditions that trigger them are not addressed.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking on Arise Television, Amadi explained that coups often result from incumbents manipulating the system to extend their tenure or obstruct opposition parties from gaining power.

“The first lesson this coup teaches us is that more may follow if nothing changes,” Amadi said.

He praised the president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a “sane and intelligent voice” amid the recent coup attempt, noting that regional solidarity often drives responses. However, he emphasized that deeper structural issues persist:
“Coups happen because incumbents rig rules to extend their tenure, block competitive elections, or capture key institutions like the election management body and judiciary, leaving no recourse but extra-constitutional measures.”

Amadi also highlighted the gap between ECOWAS’s frameworks and their practical implementation. “The protocols and democratic frameworks developed by ECOWAS exist largely on paper. They rarely influence governance at the country or regional level, leaving leaders to make critical decisions without these guidelines,” he said.

He concluded by stressing that unless the systemic conditions that enable coups are reformed, the region will continue to face instability.