Energy regionalism in West Africa has long been characterized by precarity, shaping the region’s energy landscape and governance structures. However, this adaptability has also enabled ECOWAS to navigate emerging energy crises while striving to meet the growing energy demands of its expanding population. As the region transitions toward a more resilient and sustainable energy future, reimagining and transforming its governance framework is imperative. This paper advances an alternative governance perspective grounded in a polycentric approach, which integrates energy and climate governance across multiple levels, from local to supranational. It also emphasizes the rules-based approach, exploring the interplay between de jure and de facto rules within the supra-governmental structure of ECOWAS. Furthermore, the study highlights the diversity-centered approach to institutionalism,acknowledging the varied institutional arrangements that shape regional energy systems. By embracing these pluralistic governance approaches, the paper argues for a more adaptive and inclusive energy governance system. It concludes by applying Elinor Ostrom’s design principles for resilient governance institutions to reimagine ECOWAS energy governance, offering pathways for a more robust and sustainable regional energy transition.