Peter Obi

The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, has cast doubt on the sincerity of former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi’s pledge to serve only one term if elected president in 2027, saying such promises are hard to trust in Nigeria’s political context.

Sani made the remark during an appearance on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme, on Tuesday. He was responding to Obi’s recent comments during a virtual X Space with supporters, in which the former Anambra State governor pledged to serve a single four-year term if elected president in the next general election.

“Yes, Mr Peter Obi can say, ‘I’m going to do one term,’ but northerners will argue that after Bola Tinubu’s tenure, the presidency should return to the North,” Sani said.

He added that while Obi’s promise may appear sincere on the surface, history suggests that power often changes people, and political office holders tend to shift goalposts once elected.

“Peter Obi is not a saint. He is not from another planet. We’ve seen leaders in the past try to amend the constitution or seek third terms. Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Sani said, casting doubt on the viability of Obi’s vow.

Sani also reiterated the principle of power rotation, arguing that after President Tinubu’s tenure—should he secure re-election in 2027—the North would be constitutionally and politically justified in demanding the presidency.

“The sentiment around regional representation and the sheer power of incumbency make it difficult to trust such promises,” he said, noting that power dynamics in Nigeria are deeply entrenched in regional, ethnic, and party loyalties.

President Tinubu, who hails from the South-West, is expected to complete his first term in office by May 2027. He has already indicated his intention to seek re-election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Peter Obi, widely regarded as a major challenger in the 2023 election, has not officially declared his candidacy for 2027 but has continued to engage with his support base and hint at a renewed bid for the presidency.