Abuja — Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has directed the military junta in Niger Republic to immediately conduct elections to replace former President Mahmoud Tandja who was ousted in a coup last week.

He made the point on Thursday at the Villa in Abuja when he received Mossi Hassan, a Colonel and leader of a six-man delegation from the junta's leadership, who came to brief him on plans to return democracy to Niger.

Jonathan's Spokesman, Ima Niboro, told reporters that he "was very clear that they must have a very short transition and conduct elections as soon as possible.

"That is the only way they can write their names in gold and be considered as heroes. He gave them example of Abdulsalami Abubakar who conducted the shortest transition programme in Nigeria."

Niboro said the delegation confirmed that the junta is not planning a long transition, but without stating the time frame.

Nigeria is concerned about the situation in Niger, he added, "Because anything that happens there impacts our country, especially the Northern part. Nigeria is concerned and determined to make sure that things get back to normal as soon as possible."

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Jibril Maigari, who accompanied the delegation, insisted that despite the meeting with Jonathan, the suspension of Niger from ECOWAS remains in force.

Hassan explained that "our mission in Nigeria is to explain to the President of Nigeria the reason for the emergence of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy.

"Council came about because there is a real problem in Niger. We have to tackle the problem and reconcile the people, and finally have to restore democracy in the country.

"We have appointed the Prime Minister and he will put in place the cabinet that will come and do the job, and they will determine how long we will stay."

However, the Senate condemned the coup and urged the junta to immediately begin a process of returning the country to democratically elected government at an announced definite date.

The Senate equally condemned Tandja's attempt to perpetuate himself in power through the manipulation of the Constitution which gave him a third term in office.

This manipulation led to the coup on February 18.

On Thursday, Senators unanimously approved a resolution urging the international community and the ECOWAS to assist the military leaders to hasten the return of Niger to democratic governance.

Failure to hand over to a democratically elected government could attract the wrath of the international community to the regime, the Senate warned.

Thirty other Senators co-sponsored a motion tabled by Anthony Manzo.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, noted that although many governments in the past had emerged through coups, this is no longer in vogue.

Ekweremadu is also Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Chairman of ECOWAS Parliament Committee on Niger Republic Crisis.

Senate President David Mark urged Mohammed Mana (PDP, Gombe) and John Shagaya (PDP, Plateau) to use their close ties with the military leaders in Niger to convince them to embrace democracy.

Mark said: "I learnt that members of the military junta were trained in the NDA (Nigerian Defence Academy). Mana, you were among their instructors at the NDA.

"Shagaya and Mana go and tell them to be brief or we will descend heavily on them. Let them know that it will be in their interest to return the country to democracy."

Troops led by Squadron Salou Djibo last Thursday stormed the Presidential Palace in Niamey during a cabinet meeting and seized Tandja and Ministers.