Today in history On August 13, 2002, A Test of Power when Nigeria's House of Reps Challenged Obasanjo

 

On Tuesday, August 13, 2002, Nigeria’s House of Representatives made a dramatic political move by passing a resolution that effectively gave President Olusegun Obasanjo a two-week ultimatum to resign from office or face impeachment proceedings. This unprecedented action was the result of deep tensions between the executive and legislative arms of government. Lawmakers accused Obasanjo of gross misconduct, constitutional violations, and mismanagement of national affairs. Key grievances included allegations of poor handling of the economy, disregard for legislative decisions, and abuse of power in certain policy implementations. The move came just months before the 2003 general elections, intensifying the political atmosphere and raising fears of instability in the young democracy.

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The impeachment threat was a bold test of Nigeria’s constitutional checks and balances, as it challenged the authority of a sitting president who was nearing the end of his first term. Obasanjo, for his part, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and expressed confidence in surviving the storm. The ultimatum attracted nationwide attention, sparking debates on governance, political accountability, and the limits of legislative power. While tensions ran high, negotiations, political lobbying, and backchannel compromises eventually helped de-escalate the crisis. In the end, the impeachment did not proceed, but the event marked one of the most significant confrontations between a Nigerian president and the National Assembly in the Fourth Republic.