Nigerian president warned on 3rd term

ABUJA, Nigeria, April 20 (UPI) -- A member of the Nigerian Parliament warns against amending the country's constitution to allow President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek a third term.

James Baitachi told the Nigeria Daily Independent that Obasanjo himself swore to abide by the 1999 constitution when he took office.

The effort by Obasanjo loyalists has split his Peoples Democratic Party and could cause even more harm if it succeeds.

The election is scheduled for 2007.

The adoption of the Nigerian Constitution ended 16 years of military rule. The period since then is the longest interval of civilian rule since Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960.