Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouk Aliyu, has made a shocking revelation that he was offered N250 million to support the controversial bid to extend former President Olusegun Obasanjo's tenure beyond the constitutionally allowed two terms. Aliyu made this allegation while recounting his experience as a federal lawmaker during the 2006 constitutional amendment debate that became known as the third-term controversy.
According to Aliyu, the issue became serious after Nuhu Ribadu, who was then Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, contacted him and asked him to come to Abuja. Aliyu said Ribadu wanted him to meet with Obasanjo over the matter. He explained that he initially declined the invitation because he did not want to be involved in discussions concerning the proposed extension of the president's tenure.
Aliyu travelled to Abuja and, according to his account, subsequently met an unnamed person who allegedly presented him with N250 million as an inducement to support the third-term proposal. He said he rejected the money and maintained his opposition to the plan. Aliyu's account of events provides new insight into the intense lobbying that took place during the 2006 constitutional amendment process.
The former lawmaker further alleged that other lawmakers were also approached with large sums of money as part of efforts to secure sufficient support for the constitutional amendment. Aliyu mentioned that Aminu Bello Masari, who was Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time, was offered N500 million, while Abdul Ningi, the majority leader, was offered N400 million.
The third-term controversy remains one of the most notable political episodes of Obasanjo's administration, who governed Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. The 1999 Constitution limited the president to two four-year terms, and Obasanjo had been elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003. The constitutional amendment process in 2006 sought to make several changes to the 1999 Constitution, including allowing Obasanjo to remain in office for another term.
In May 2006, the Senate rejected the constitutional amendment that would have opened the way for Obasanjo to seek another term. The third-term controversy eventually ended without a constitutional change, and Obasanjo left office in 2007 after completing his second elected term. In September 2025, Obasanjo again denied that he personally pursued a third term in office, challenging anyone with evidence to present it.
Despite Obasanjo's denial, some individuals have come forward with claims that he did pursue a third term. For instance, former Abia State governor and current senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, later said Obasanjo personally discussed the third-term ambition with him. Kalu's account was reported after Obasanjo's September 2025 denial, adding to the ongoing debate about the former president's intentions.
Key points
- Former Minority Leader Farouk Aliyu claims he was offered N250 million to support former President Olusegun Obasanjo's bid for a third term in 2006.
- Aliyu alleges that other lawmakers were also approached with large sums of money to secure support for the constitutional amendment.
- Obasanjo has consistently denied pursuing a third term, despite claims from some individuals that he did.
