The Presidency on Tuesday dissociated itself from a support group advocating for constitutional amendment to allow for presidential third term limit to enable President Muhammadu Buhari extend his tenure beyond 2023.
A statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, late Tuesday night in Abuja, said under no circumstances would the President seek to amend the two-term provision of the constitution.
The statement read in part: “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 limit on holding office as President.”
Shehu stressed that President Buhari would serve his full second term in office, terminating in 2023 and then a general election would be held in which he would not contest.
He insisted: “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.
“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.”
