By Steve Oko

A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Lasbry Amadi, has claimed he played a pivotal role in halting the 2002 impeachment plot against then President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing the episode as a critical moment for Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.

Speaking with journalists, Amadi portrayed the impeachment move as a high-stakes political confrontation that threatened to destabilise the country just three years after the end of military rule.

He recalled that at the height of the crisis, the House of Representatives, led by then Speaker Ghali Na’Abba, issued a two-week ultimatum demanding Obasanjo’s resignation over alleged constitutional breaches. The development intensified an already strained relationship between the President and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar.

Amadi said he was present at a tense late-night meeting where lawmakers allegedly strategised on the impeachment process. Despite being labelled a “rebel” for opposing the move, he chose to remain and push back from within.

According to him, a turning point came during a crucial meeting at the Presidential Villa, where he confronted key political actors and revealed details of the impeachment plan. He said the intervention helped shift the situation from confrontation to dialogue.

The former lawmaker added that this led to a series of behind-the-scenes engagements among stakeholders, which ultimately defused tensions and preserved constitutional order.

“I acted in the interest of democracy,” he said, noting that Nigeria was on the brink of a political crisis that could have triggered widespread instability.

The 2002 standoff is widely regarded as a major test for Nigeria’s democratic institutions, with its peaceful resolution paving the way for the 2003 general elections—the country’s first successful civilian-to-civilian transition.

Amadi further disclosed that his role was not formally recognised during Obasanjo’s second term, although he claimed the former president privately acknowledged his contribution, allegedly stating that his name would be remembered in Nigeria’s history.

He also called for renewed political dialogue, urging engagement between Obasanjo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a means of fostering national unity.