Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of lying about his alleged third term ambition.
Kalu, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, dismissed Obasanjo’s recent claim that he never sought a third term in office, insisting the former president had personally informed him of the plan.
Former President Obasanjo had earlier denied ever pursuing a third term during a candid session at the 2025 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Annual Democracy Dialogue held in Accra, Ghana.
Addressing the long-standing allegations, Obasanjo maintained that he never attempted to extend his tenure beyond his two terms (1999–2007), comparing such an effort to his successful push for Nigeria’s debt relief, which he described as an even tougher challenge.
However, Kalu countered the statement, saying, “What Obasanjo said in Ghana, that he never wanted a third term, was a lie.”
“He called me to the Villa and told me he wanted a third term, and I told him no,” Kalu added. “That’s why he started having issues with me. We stopped him with the help of former US President Bush.”
The exchange has reignited public debate over one of Nigeria’s most controversial political chapters, as both leaders continue to stand by their conflicting versions of events.
