Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says Peter Obi, the party’s standard-bearer for the 2027 elections, signed an agreement committing to serve only one term if elected president.
Speaking on Monday during his appearance on Channels’ Politics Today, Kwankwaso said the accord is the basis for building an alliance ahead of the next general election.
He said he believes Obi would honour the arrangement, describing him as a trustworthy politician who has Nigeria’s interest at heart.
“I personally believe him. Based on what I now know about him, I don’t think he will renege. I don’t think he will change his mind when the time comes. We are all gentlemen, even though we have accepted to put it on paper,” Kwankwaso said.
“We will work together as a group, as a party, as friends, brothers and so on and involve everybody to work together so that after our term of four years in 2031, then it (presidency) comes back to the north. That is the general agreement.
Kwankwaso said his assessment of Obi had changed since the 2023 elections, noting that he now considers the former Anambra governor a dependable leader.
“I now know that Peter is a very serious politician; he has this country in mind. He is someone to be relied on,” Kwankwaso said.
“When we compared our blueprints, mine and his, we realised that we have a similar vision and mission for the country. That was why it was very easy for us to agree to work together as a family.”
Obi has repeatedly said he will serve one term if elected president in 2027.
The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) said a single term would allow power to rotate back to the north in 2031, promoting national unity, fairness, and political stability.
Obi noted that his one-term pledge is rooted in his commitment to the country’s zoning principle rather than a desire to remain in office for the constitutionally permitted two terms.
