The Presidency has disowned a support group’s commentary advocating for a constitutional amendment to give room for presidential third term limit to enable President Muhammadu Buhari to extend his tenure beyond 2023.

A statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, late Tuesday night in Abuja, said no circumstances that would warrant the president to seek a third term in office.

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 term limit on holding office as President.”

According to the presidential aide, 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.”

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Shehu insisted that no such attempt would happen under the Buhari administration.

“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,” he added.

 

NAN