The Presidency on Independence Day (yesterday, Tuesday, October 1, 2019) broke its silence as the campaign for an unconstitutional third term in office for President Muhammadu Buhari began to look serious.

The campaign first came into the open through an online advocacy by one of the Buhari support groups known as The Buharist Reporters’, which recently shared photos on its Facebook page showing some members wearing Buhari third term T-shirts, accompanied with the post: “Movement for the Approval of Buhari Third Term. We demand Constitutional Amendment to enable Baba continue beyond 2023…”

As the nation marked its 59 years of independence, the Presidency weighed in on the matter following purported street marches in parts of the country advocating a third term for the President.

A statement signed by Senior Presidential Media Aide Garba Shehu poured cold water on the campaign, declaring it unconstitutional and making it clear that the President has no interest in it whatsoever. The statement reads:

“The Presidency wishes to correct internet-based gossip and un-informed media commentary regarding presidential term limits, given credence by so-called support groups, staging street demonstrations asking President Muhammadu Buhari to do a third term.

“There are no circumstances – nor set of circumstances – under which President Buhari may seek to amend the Constitution regarding the two-term term limit on holding office as President.

“President Buhari intends to serve his full second elected term in office, ending 2023 – and then there shall be a general election in which he will not be a candidate.

“There is not even the faintest possibility that this will change.

“It is important to note that there was a past attempt to change the Constitution to allow for the-then incumbent president to stand for a third term. That attempt was wrong, unconstitutional – and rightly rebuffed. No such attempt will happen under this President.

“President Buhari is a democrat. He respects the Constitution. Any activity aimed at altering the two-term limit will not succeed and shall never have his time nor support.”

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