Obi’s One-Term Promise Sparks Mixed Reactions from Northern Leaders

Peter Obi’s renewed vow to serve only one term if elected president in 2027 has stirred strong reactions from northern political leaders, with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and others dismissing it as a campaign tactic rather than a binding commitment.

The ACF said Obi’s promise, though admirable, holds no constitutional weight and cannot be enforced if he chooses to run for a second term. The forum’s spokesperson, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, described it as a “political strategy” aimed at gaining voter appeal. He noted that the Nigerian Constitution allows two four-year terms and recalled how President Muhammadu Buhari once made a similar one-term pledge before running again and completing two terms.

Obi, however, stood firm on his position. In a statement shared on his verified X handle, the former Labour Party presidential candidate declared that his promise is “sacrosanct.” He cited leaders like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela, who served short but impactful tenures, to back his claim that long stays in office are not necessary to achieve lasting change.

Obi acknowledged widespread scepticism about political promises but said he is not like typical politicians who say one thing and do another. According to him, his record as Anambra State governor proves that he keeps his word.

The debate around Obi’s one-term pledge comes amid ongoing concerns about power rotation between the North and South. With President Bola Tinubu currently serving as a southern president, many expect the South to retain the presidency until 2031 before the position returns to the North.

Obi’s stance has not gone down well with some northern figures. Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo recently mocked the idea, saying any politician making such a vow needs psychiatric evaluation. Similarly, the president of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima, dismissed Obi’s statement as a bid for attention. He argued that President Tinubu is performing well and should be allowed to complete the South’s expected eight-year tenure.

Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo also weighed in. Speaking on Channels Television, Keyamo said Obi would struggle to win in the North due to a lack of strong political structures. He insisted that Tinubu and the APC have the advantage in the region and that the opposition’s plans to unite behind one candidate — possibly Obi and Atiku Abubakar — would not be enough to defeat them in 2027.

Despite the pushback, Obi maintains that his word is his bond. He believes 48 months is sufficient to deliver on his vision of transforming Nigeria from a consumption-driven to a production-driven economy, while also tackling insecurity, corruption, and poverty.

As the 2027 race gradually takes shape, Obi’s one-term pledge appears to have become both a rallying point and a lightning rod in the evolving national debate.