By Vaye Abel Lepolu,
Abuja, Nigeria – The First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, which commenced on May 20 and is expected to run through May 31, 2025, has gathered lawmakers from across West Africa to deliberate on key regional issues including peace, democracy, economic integration, and human rights.
One of the most compelling voices during the ongoing session has been that of Hon. Moima D. Briggs Mensah, a Liberian parliamentarian known for her fierce advocacy for gender justice and democratic accountability. Hon. Briggs Mensah made headlines this week after passionately addressing the plenary on what she termed a “critical test of women’s political space” in West Africa—referring to the legal challenges facing Hon. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a Nigerian senator and public servant.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has been entangled in a series of politically charged legal disputes, which some civil society groups have described as attempts to silence a prominent female voice in Nigerian politics. The Liberian lawmaker seized the platform in Abuja to urge the Nigerian Delegation and the ECOWAS Parliament at large to pay serious attention to the matter, stressing its broader implications for women in leadership roles across the sub-region.
“What happens to one woman in public service should matter to us all. Hon. Natasha’s case is about every woman’s right to speak, to lead, and to serve without fear or intimidation,”
said Representative Briggs Mensah during a stirring plenary session.
She further asserted that ignoring the situation could set a dangerous precedent for women’s political engagement across the ECOWAS bloc.
This year’s Ordinary Session comes at a pivotal moment for West Africa, a region grappling with rising insecurity, democratic backsliding, and gender-based political marginalization. Legislators are using the session to review the implementation of previous ECOWAS protocols, propose reforms, and reinforce regional cooperation in the face of evolving challenges.
Briggs Mensah’s statement was widely applauded and has reignited conversations around women’s rights and political protection in the region. Known for her work both in Liberia and internationally, she continues to be a leading voice for inclusive governance and gender equity within the ECOWAS framework.
