Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has shared details of how the late former President Muhammadu Buhari stood firm against ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s plan to run for a third term and prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state.

According to Okechukwu, Buhari held a series of strategic meetings with members of the National Assembly at the time, convincing them to resist the move. His influence played a key role in ensuring the controversial plan did not succeed.

He noted that Buhari’s actions strengthened the resolve of then-Senate President Ken Nnamani and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Masari, helping them recognize the overwhelming public opposition to the third-term bid, despite allegations that each lawmaker was offered ₦50 million to support it.

In a statement, Okechukwu, who also served as Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), lamented Nigeria’s current political trend, which he described as dangerously leaning toward a one-party system. He recalled that Obasanjo’s administration between 1999 and 2007 nearly undermined the nation’s young democracy.

Reflecting on events in 2006, Okechukwu said Buhari’s firm opposition and political maneuvering were crucial in defeating the third-term plot. He explained that Buhari’s efforts helped protect Nigeria’s democratic structure and prevent the dominance of a single political party.

Okechukwu concluded that Buhari’s resistance marked the turning point in halting a one-party system in Nigeria, even in the face of alleged financial inducements to lawmakers. He described it as a powerful example of how political courage can safeguard democracy.