Third-term agenda would’ve ruined Nigeria’s democracy – Senator Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani says Nigeria’s democracy was saved from collapse when the third-term agenda of former president Olusegun Obasanjo was stopped in 2006.

In a post on X on Monday, Sani said Nigerians should always appreciate former Senate President Ken Nnamani and the late Ghali Na’Abba, ex-speaker of the House of Representatives, for resisting the attempt to extend presidential tenure.

Sani, however, made an error, as Aminu Bello Masari was the Speaker at the time and not Late Na’Abba.

He drew a comparison between Nigeria and other African countries where leaders have remained in power for decades, citing Cameroon and Djibouti as examples.

“Paul Biya remains in power in Cameroon for more years and Djibouti’s parliament has unanimously scrapped age limits for presidential candidates, paving the way for the incumbent to run for a sixth term in office,” Sani wrote.

“If you are a Nigerian, always thank Senator Ken Nnamani and late Ghali Na’Abba for saving you from tenure elongation.”

In 2006, the national assembly, under Nnamani and Masari’s leadership, rejected the proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed Obasanjo to seek a third term, a decision widely regarded as a turning point for Nigeria’s democratic stability.