A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has urged the Economic Community of West African States to sanction Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, over the postponement of the country’s presidential election.
The call followed Sall’s decision to call off this month’s elections, citing a row over the eligibility of candidates.
The humann rights lawyer stressed that ECOWAS should urgently organise an extra-ordinary session to discuss and respond to the deteriorating human rights and rule of law situation in the country, according to Daily Post.
He explained that postponement of the elections suggests a deliberate ploy by Sall to manipulate the country’s constitution.
According to him, this is in order to hold on to power against the will of the people and popular aspirations.
In a statement, Falana said, “Imposing targeted sanctions on Mr Sall and officials of his government is consistent with the provisions of ECOWAS treaties and protocols including article 45 (2) of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.”
