In a bold and calculated display of continental ambition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again placed himself at the center of Africa’s geopolitical chessboard; orchestrating what observers are calling a Machiavellian high-stakes power play, to marginalize Senegal and position himself as Africa’s next kingmaker. Diplomatic sources in Abuja who elected anonymity, ostensibly not to invite the wrath of the very vindictive Tinubu, told Huhuonline.com that, as the African Union (AU) Chairmanship rotates back to West Africa in 2026, Tinubu has wasted no time in maneuvering behind the scenes to claim the position, placing Nigeria’s name at the top of the shortlist, whether the region agrees or not.
The AU rotational leadership system dictates that the chairmanship rotates among Africa’s regions, and with East Africa currently holding the seat, West African leaders are lining up for their turn in 2026. While no official declarations were made during the June 22 summit hosted by Tinubu in Abuja, insider sources confirm intense lobbying is already underway, with Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal among leading contenders. According to the high-level diplomatic sources, Senegal, known for its stable democratic tradition and recent peaceful transfer of power, was widely expected to lead ECOWAS’s nomination for the AU chair. But Tinubu, unwilling to concede continental spotlight to a smaller neighbor, reportedly marshaled Nigeria’s diplomatic muscle to block Senegal’s bid. “What we are witnessing is a viciously quiet political ambush,” said a West African diplomat. “Tinubu wants to ensure Senegal doesn’t even make it to the table. It’s not about Nigeria’s leadership – it’s about his personal legacy.”
The AU chairperson plays a critical role in setting the agenda for the continent, leading peace and security efforts, and representing Africa on the global stage. The informal discussions in Abuja hint at rising geopolitical competition within ECOWAS as countries position themselves not just for symbolic prestige but for real diplomatic and economic leverage. A senior West African diplomat, speaking under anonymity, said: “There’s growing consensus that the AU chair should return to West Africa, but who exactly gets the nod remains politically sensitive. Nigeria sees itself as a natural leader, but not everyone agrees.” Observers hinted that President Tinubu is quietly building a coalition to support his bid. Ghana, meanwhile, is presenting itself as a neutral and stable alternative, and Senegal is banking on its smooth democratic transition and regional credibility to make its case.
A Voice Louder Than the Rest — At Any Cost
Tinubu’s ambition to be Africa’s loudest voice on the global stage is hardly a secret. From hosting major investment forums to pitching Nigeria as the continent’s “natural leader,” his foreign policy increasingly blurs the line between state interest and personal projection. His latest push – a controversial plan for a self-funded ECOWAS standby military force – was presented at the Abuja summit, not as a collective defense mechanism but as another testament to his leadership acumen. This proposal comes against a backdrop of recent military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger, and fears that the region’s credibility in enforcing democratic norms is waning.
While the initiative was placed on the agenda, reliable sources say many ECOWAS members remain skeptical about the feasibility and political will to fund such a force. There is broad concern about national budgets, political priorities, and fears of being dragged into prolonged conflicts. However, many ECOWAS leaders balked at the plan, citing fiscal strain, unresolved past failures, and skepticism over Tinubu’s unilateral approach. “No one objects to security,” said one skeptical official. “But the president seems more interested in being seen as a wartime general than building real consensus,” adding: “there is support in principle for a regional force, but almost no appetite to write the checks needed to make it real. Many leaders are quietly wary of military entanglements.”
ECOWAS in crisis: Fractures in Francophone-Anglophone Relations
Huhuonline.com understands that Tinubu’s power play has deepened the historic fault lines between Francophone and Anglophone West Africa, threatening what little unity ECOWAS has left. Senegal, a key French-speaking member, is reported to be privately furious over the deliberate exclusion, and tensions are reportedly rising in Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, who see Tinubu’s actions as a power grab by Anglophone hegemony. The Francophone bloc, long wary of Nigeria’s dominance, now faces a dilemma: fall in line or push back hard.
ECOWAS is facing its biggest legitimacy test in decades. The wave of military coups has left it struggling to respond effectively, while internal divisions and growing anti-Western, pro-sovereignty sentiments have challenged its cohesion; deepening the regional split and raising urgent questions about the bloc’s future direction. Regional observers warn that this latest episode could widen the rift, potentially emboldening the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso) and encouraging future ECOWAS defections. “ECOWAS is becoming a stage for Tinubu’s solo performance,” said an ECOWAS analyst. “That’s dangerous for a region where cooperation is our only lifeline.”
Diplomatic sources confided to Huhuonline.com that ECOWAS must formally submit its nominee for the 2026 AU Chair before the end of the year. Nigeria is expected to push for Tinubu, who is expected to unveil details of the ECOWAS standby force proposal this month, but funding, governance, and mandate remain controversial, hence implementation remains uncertain. A diplomatic source close to Tinubu admitted to Huhuonline.com that tensions between Nigeria and Senegal are expected to spill into the AU and other multilateral platforms unless carefully managed. The source hinted that a special ECOWAS summit may be convened later in the year to address political unity and regional security.
Nigeria’s Overreach or Africa’s Renaissance?
While the official statements from the recent Abuja summit focused on “unity and progress,” the real stories are unfolding in closed-door meetings and whispered alliances. As West Africa prepares for its turn at the helm of the African Union, the stakes are high, and the battle lines are already being drawn; with Nigeria, as always, looming large. To Tinubu’s allies, his assertiveness marks a revival of Nigerian leadership after years of passivity under past administrations. But to his critics, it is an imperial-style overreach, driven by personal ambition, that risks shattering fragile regional alliances and undermining ECOWAS credibility. In the halls of Abuja, one thing is clear: President Tinubu wants to be the voice of Africa – whether or not the rest of Africa agrees.
