Political activist and former federal lawmaker Dr. Usman Bugaje has reignited a fierce debate over former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s alleged third-term bid, directly challenging Obasanjo’s recent denial that he never sought to extend his presidency beyond 2007.
Speaking at a democracy dialogue hosted by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Ghana last week, Obasanjo dismissed the long-standing controversy, stating, “I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian dead or alive that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term.”
However, Bugaje, a National Assembly member during Obasanjo’s tenure, countered on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, September 22, 2025, asserting that Obasanjo “did everything within his power” to secure an unconstitutional third term.
Bugaje, appearing resolute, argued that Obasanjo’s defense—hinging on not personally making phone calls—was unconvincing and sidestepped the reality known to lawmakers at the time.
“I can confirm to you that Obasanjo looked for a third term. He did everything that he could within his power to get a third term, but he failed to do so,” Bugaje declared.
He recounted a climate of intimidation in 2006, when a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution, which would have allowed presidents to seek three consecutive terms, roiled Nigeria’s political landscape.
Bugaje alleged that Obasanjo’s agents systematically pressured lawmakers, with some facing overt threats to push the amendment through the National Assembly.
The former lawmaker pointed to specific incidents, citing Senator Victor Lar, then leader of the Northern caucus in the House of Representatives, who was reportedly forced into hiding to evade coercion before a critical meeting to block the third-term bid.
“Those people who actually distributed the money and threatened us are alive. Those who received the money are alive. Those who refused to receive the money are alive. There is sufficient evidence… this is a matter that is incontrovertible, there is no way he can deny it,” Bugaje insisted, emphasizing that the events remain vivid for those involved.
The “third-term agenda” saga, which gripped Nigeria in 2006, ultimately collapsed when the Senate rejected the constitutional amendment, a move many attributed to fierce resistance from legislators like Lar.
Bugaje’s explosive claims have reignited discussions about Obasanjo’s legacy, casting a shadow over his democratic credentials as Nigeria grapples with ongoing debates about political accountability.