Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouq Aliyu, has claimed that he rejected the N250 million offered to him to support the third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He said the speaker of the House of Representatives at the time, Aminu Masari, also rejected the sum of N400 million to support the bid.

The third term agenda was one of the most controversial issues that characterised the administration of Obasanjo, who was president between 1999 and 2007.

In May 2006, the National Assembly rejected a bill that sought to amend Nigeria’s constitution, which would have allowed Obasanjo run for a third successive term in office.

The former president has repeatedly denied that he sought a third term in office.

Speaking on a podcast at the weekend ,Aliyu insisted that Obasanjo’s third term agenda was real.

According to him, during discussions about the third term agenda, Nuhu Ribadu, who was the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, asked him to come to Abuja for a meeting with Obasanjo.

Aliyu said he initially rejected Ribadu’s request but later accepted to meet with Obasanjo.

The former lawmaker said when he went to Abuja, he discussed the third term agenda and insisted that the move would not be successful.

He added that he was offered N250 million by someone Ribadu asked him to meet with.

Aliyu, however, did not mention the name of the person during the interview.

He added that Masari rejected the sum of N400 million to support the third term bid, while lawmakers were offered a minimum of N50 million to support the agenda.

“Third term agenda was real. In fact, 250 million was given to me. I did not take it,” he said.

“Masari, who was the speaker then, 400 million was offered. He did not take it. Abdul Ningi, the majority leader, 400 million naira was offered to him. He did not take it.

“N50 million was dashed to small fries. They paid minimum of N50 million.”

The former minority leader said late Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, played prominent roles in thwarting the bid for a third term.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described Saturday’s bye-elections in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states as an opportunity to test its systems and logistics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, said the commission would use lessons from the four bye-elections to improve its preparations for the nationwide polls.

Amupitan spoke while monitoring the elections from the commission’s National Situation Room at its headquarters in Abuja on Saturday.

The elections were held in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency of Kano State, Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies of Bauchi State, and Udu State Constituency of Delta State.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Adedayo Oketola, the INEC chairman said every election provided an opportunity for the commission to assess its readiness.

“These four bye-elections provide indispensable operational lessons for the Commission as we systematically chart our roadmap toward the 2027 General Election,” Amupitan said.

He said the commission would use the exercises to assess its logistics, technology and administrative preparations.

According to him, the commission must not treat bye-elections as routine exercises because they provide important lessons that could strengthen future elections.

Amupitan personally monitored reports from the various locations alongside National Commissioners and senior officials of the commission.

He said some operational challenges identified before the elections were addressed promptly.

The INEC chairman said the National Situation Room was also being used to monitor developments and resolve problems that could affect the smooth conduct of the elections.

“We will continue to improve our processes to achieve greater efficiency and build public confidence in future elections,” Amupitan said.

In a La Liga Matchday 7 fixture, Barcelona defeated Sevilla 3-1 away from home.

Following this match, Barcelona remains firmly at the top of the La Liga standings with a perfect record of seven wins from seven games. In these matches, they have been prolific, scoring an impressive 31 goals.

In the history of La Liga, only one team has scored more goals than Barcelona after the first seven rounds: Sevilla, the same team Barcelona defeated on Saturday, who scored 40 goals in the first seven games of the 1940/41 season.

It is worth noting that in that season, Sevilla defeated Barcelona 11-1 in the opening match of the league.