The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu has been predicted to have the chance of changing the constitution and contesting for a third term in office Eniola Daniel, a political commentator, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, noted that Tinubu can achieve this as long as Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas remain leaders of the National Assembly According to Daniel, Tinubu also has a 50 per cent chance of retaining power in the 2027 election.
President Bola Tinubu has been predicted to have over 50 per cent chances of returning to power in the 2027 general election. Eniola Daniel, a political commentator, commented in an exclusive interview with Tv Channels.
No, President Tinubu cannot legally go for a third term under Nigeria’s Constitution.
Legal Standpoint:
According to Section 137(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, a person cannot be elected to the office of President more than two times. This is a strict rule, and changing it would require a constitutional amendment, which is a long and difficult process involving:
- Approval by two-thirds of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Reps)
- Approval by two-thirds of all 36 State Houses of Assembly
Chances of a Third Term?
Very slim to impossible under the current democratic setup. Here’s why:
- Public resistance: Nigerians strongly oppose anything that hints at dictatorship or tenure extension (as seen during Obasanjo’s failed third term attempt).
- Political pushback: Many politicians—even within his own party—would likely oppose it to protect their own ambitions.
- International pressure: The global community, especially countries like the US and UK, promote democratic norms and would frown upon any such move.
So in short:
No, it’s not legally right, and his chances of getting a third term are near zero unless Nigeria’s entire democratic system is reshaped—which is highly unlikely.
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