2027 Election: Peter Obi’s ‘One-Term Presidency’ Triggers Pushback From Northern Stakeholders
- The promise of a one-term presidency by Peter Obi has been largely opposed by northern political stakeholders
- Obi has come under fire after reaffirming his vow to serve only one term if elected president in the 2027 election
- In a recent statement, Obi declared the pledge “sacrosanct,” drawing criticism from politicsal actors in the north
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering elections, politics, and governance in Nigeria.
Kano, Kano state - The one-term presidency pledge by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election and key member of the opposition coalition, has stirred controversy among northern political stakeholders.
Legit.ng reports that Obi has continued to affirm a one-term presidency of four years if elected president in the 2027 election.
Source: Facebook
On Monday, August 3, Obi said his push for a one-term, four-year presidency remains sacrosanct.
Stressing that his word remains his bond, the opposition leader said:
"It is within this context that I reiterate my vow: I will serve only one term of four years if elected President. And that vow is sacrosanct.
“I am fully aware that the decay in our society has made trust one of the scarcest and most sceptically viewed commodities. Many Nigerians, understandably, no longer take politicians at their word.
“But even in this climate of cynicism, there are still a few whose actions have matched their words – whose integrity is built on verifiable precedent.”
North finding it hard to trust Obi
Commenting on former governor Obi’s affirmation, Salihu Muhammad Danlami, the speaker of Arewa Youth Assembly, said northern Nigeria cannot accept Obi’s one-term promise.
He told Vanguard in a report published on Sunday, August 10:
"This is pure desperation to get power. We cannot forget in a hurry how Peter Obi turned the 2023 presidential election into a religious and ethnic affair. Northerners cannot fall on such a cheap promise from someone like Peter Obi. Even Goodluck Jonathan made such a promise during 2011, but still went on to contest in 2015.
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“Power must come back to Northern Nigeria after the South has spent eight years in power. We have two southerners who have one more term to rule: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Goodluck Jonathan. Let’s vote wisely.”
Source: Facebook
On his part, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, former media aide to Abdullahi Ganduje during the latter's time as governor of Kano state, said Obi cannot be trusted on his promise to serve for only one term.
The former governorship candidate of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), described the pledge as gimmicks that cannot sway voters, especially those from the core north.
Yakasai said:
“Yes, I’ve also heard Obi’s promise of one term, I believe he has said it multiple times now, and to be honest and frank, I doubt if this will sway voters, especially those that aren’t his supporters, particularly those from the core north.
“We all know politicians and their promises. Before election they promise you heaven, after election, they’ll shamelessly backtrack on it with zero remorse.
"For example, there is a video of President Tinubu saying if he doesn’t give Nigerians 24 hours electricity, we should not vote for him for second term. It’s two years, we don’t have 24 hours electricity. We won’t have it before 2027. But here he is campaigning to be re-elected already. Because of this nature of our politicians, I doubt Nigerians, especially the Northern part, will take this promise by Peter Obi seriously.”
Cleric predicts winner of 2027 election
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a prominent preacher, Pastor Emmanuel Ezeasor, said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) "will do everything possible" to emerge victorious in the 2027 election.
Pastor Ezeasor, in a video shared recently on his known YouTube page, declared that 'the people who are currently in power will win'.
According to him, his revelation is 'what God showed him in the vision of the night'.
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Source: Legit.ng
