Politics

Buhari will not seek third term – Presidency assures Nigerians

Wednesday, October 02, 2019 at 9:10 AM by Jerrywright Ukwu

- The presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari will not, under any circumstance, seek a third term in office

- Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said he was reacting to internet-based gossip and un-informed media commentary on the issue

- Shehu said Buhari will not be a candidate in the 2023 presidential election upon the completion of his second term in office

The presidency has dismissed some media reports and social media posts insinuating that President Muhammadu Buhari will seek a third term in office.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, made the clarification in a statement sent to journalists on Tuesday, October 1.

Shehu said Buhari will not be a candidate in the 2023 presidential election upon the completion of his second term in office.

Part of the statement read: “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.

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“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.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the national chairman of National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr. Yunusa Tanko, has warned that Nigerians would resist any move against Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Tanko was reacting to the rumours that the presidency is moving to reduce the powers of the vice president and subsequently sideline him.