Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has made a fresh claim about the alleged third-term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, claiming that the former Nigerian leader wanted to become a life president.
According to Oshiomhole, it took the staunch determination of the National Assembly under Senator Ken Nnamani to stop Obasanjo from transforming himself into a president for life, like President Paul Biya of Cameroon, and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, if he had succeeded with the plan to amend the constitution to allow for the third term.
Naijaonpoint reports that Oshiomhole made the claim while speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during the lecture titled “June 12 and Beyond: Reflecting on the Progress of Democracy and Security Concerns” to mark the 2026 June 12 celebration.
He stated that Nnamani resisted the pressure of a third-term agenda despite being in the same political party as Obasanjo.
The former Governor added that the National Assembly leadership at that time allowed proceedings to be televised so every lawmaker would be accountable for his or her position.
Also, Oshiomhole revealed that the country’s late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, was prepared to offer Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola anything in exchange for relinquishing his claim to the June 12, 1993, presidential mandate.
According to him, he was part of a delegation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that met with General Abacha in Abuja following the annulment of the June 12 election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll.
The former governor noted that despite mounting pressure and several attempts to persuade Abiola to accept conditions for his freedom, the late politician remained resolute in defending the mandate given to him by Nigerians.
Oshiomhole recalled that government officials and intermediaries repeatedly urged Abiola to renounce his claim to the presidency in exchange for his release from detention, but he refused.
According to him, Abiola was not ready to monetise or betray the confidence of Nigerians who voted for him in exchange for personal comfort and survival.
Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has urged Nigerians to stop viewing elections as perfect exercises, saying the country should focus more on strengthening democratic institutions and improving electoral processes.
Fashola, a former Minister of Works, Housing and Power, said elections, especially in a large federation like Nigeria, involve complex logistics that make absolute perfection difficult to achieve.
Naijaonpoint reports that Fashola spoke on Friday at The Platform, a public policy forum held in Lagos as part of activities marking Democracy Day.
According to him, while elections remain central to democracy, citizens and political actors must understand the challenges involved in conducting nationwide polls.
The former governor said presidential elections require thousands of polling units across the country to conduct the same process at the same time, often under different local conditions.
He noted that such a huge operation could produce mistakes or shortcomings, adding that the challenge should be how to improve the system rather than weaken public confidence in elections.
Fashola also expressed concern over what he described as the growing refusal of some political actors to accept election results after losing.
He warned that such conduct could hinder democratic growth and weaken the role of the opposition in national development.
According to him, democracy does not end with victory or defeat at the polls.
He said opposition parties and unsuccessful candidates have important roles to play in holding the government accountable, offering alternative policies and contributing to the progress of society.