Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent lawyer and member of the opposition coalition, has revealed that Peter Obi’s pledge to serve only a single term if elected president in 2027 is a deliberate political strategy to gain support from Nigeria’s northern region.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, September 05, 2025, Okonkwo explained that the one-term promise is designed to address northern concerns about power rotation and ensure Obi’s acceptability across the country’s geopolitical zones.
Okonkwo, a former spokesman for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, noted that the strategy was inspired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had previously proposed a single-term presidency.
“So it was even Atiku Abubakar that first of all said he was going to do one term, then Peter Obi now keyed into it because he knows that if he, as a younger person, does not make that promise, he loses the entire North,” Okonkwo stated.
He emphasized that the pledge aims to reassure northern voters that Obi would not disrupt the North-South power-sharing arrangement by seeking a full eight-year tenure, which could be perceived as shortchanging the North.
The one-term promise, according to Okonkwo, is part of a broader opposition strategy to defeat the incumbent by ensuring no region feels disadvantaged.
“If you are a southerner and you don’t agree to do one term, the northerners will say you want to do another eight years, which will offend the system. If you are a northerner and you don’t agree to one term, the southerners will say you want to cut them short early,” he explained.
Obi’s commitment, he argued, signals respect for Nigeria’s zoning principles while fostering national unity.
However, the pledge has sparked mixed reactions. Some northern stakeholders, like former Minister of Information Ibrahim Nakande, acknowledge Obi’s nationwide support, including in the North, but view the promise as a political maneuver.
The Middle Belt Forum’s President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, suggested that Obi’s consistent record could make his offer appealing, especially in the absence of strong northern candidates.
Conversely, Alhaji Muhammad Salihu Danlami of the Arewa Youth Assembly dismissed the pledge, citing past disappointments with similar promises, such as former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid.
Critics, including elder statesman Tanko Yakasai, argue that re-electing President Bola Tinubu in 2027 would be a more reliable path for power to return to the North in 2031, as Tinubu is constitutionally limited to one more term.
Others, like Anthony Sani of the Arewa Consultative Forum, question the sincerity of Obi’s pledge, suggesting it is driven by expediency rather than a genuine commitment to performance.
Obi’s supporters, including his vocal “Obidient” base, defends the promise, arguing it reflects his focus on transformative leadership over personal ambition.
They point to Obi’s emphasis on security, education, and poverty reduction as evidence of his intent to deliver impactful change within four years.
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