- The Regional Citizens Dialogue Programme (RCDP) begins in Abuja, aiming to address Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCG) in West Africa
- Notable attendees include representatives from African Union, ECOWAS, WADEMOS, and Portuguese Ambassador Paulo Martins dos Santos
Today marks the commencement of the Regional Citizens Dialogue Programme (RCDP) in Abuja, an initiative to address and prevent Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCG) in West Africa.
Notable attendees include representatives from various esteemed organizations such as the African Union’s African Peer-Review Mechanism (APRM), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Democracy Solidarity Group (WADEMOS), and the Commissioner of the Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS), among others.
Furthermore, the Portuguese Ambassador to Nigeria, Paulo Martins dos Santos, is also confirmed to attend.
As part of the agenda, leaders of the RCDP initiative are scheduled to meet with the leadership of the National Assembly, signifying the importance of collaboration between governmental and civil society entities.
Throughout the two-day programme, participants are expected from civil society groups across West Africa and beyond, including representatives from regional agencies and institutions in Europe.
In an invitation letter addressed to the participants, Prof. Ayo Omatayo, Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Jos, Nigeria, highlighted the collaborative efforts behind RCDP, involving a consortium of civil societies, research think tanks, and institutions such as the Regional Centre for Governance and Security Policy Initiative (RCGSPI) in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and the Dantiye Centre for Good Leadership and Journalism (DCLJ) in Kano, with support from the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) based in Lisbon, Portugal.