Politics

2027: Obi’s One-term Presidency Gambit Sparks Political Firestorm

Published

10 months ago

August 4, 2025

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has come under fire from the All Progressives Congress and a faction of his party after reaffirming his vow to serve only one term if elected president in 2027.

In a statement on Sunday, Obi declared the pledge “sacrosanct,” drawing criticism from APC spokespersons and a divided reaction from the Labour Party.

While the Abure-led leadership of the LP dismissed the vow as political theatrics, the rival caretaker faction led by Senator Nenadi Usman endorsed the commitment, citing Obi’s record of principled leadership.

The APC, however, described Obi’s promise as insincere and a ploy to woo voters.

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, had earlier cast doubt on claims of one-term presidency by Obi.

Soludo dismissed the one-term pledge, saying any politician making such a promise should be sent for psychiatric evaluation.

“How can anybody with a functioning brain say that? Do you think you’re speaking to fools? You come to people and say you will do only one term.

“Any politician who says that must be sent to a psychiatric home because the person must have some mental problem,” Soludo said during a political rally in Anambra South.

The governor argued that the Nigerian Constitution provides for a renewable four-year tenure and questioned the wisdom of any politician voluntarily limiting themselves to a single term.

In response on Sunday, Obi, in a statement on X, invoked the legacies of revered leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela to justify his position that impactful leadership is not measured by longevity in office.

Without naming names, just as Soludo hadn’t, Obi reaffirmed that his pledge to serve only one term if elected president remains sacrosanct.

Obi said, “One of the greatest American Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, served only four years, yet his legacy endures as a model of principled leadership.

“Another iconic figure, John F. Kennedy, did not even complete a full term, yet his vision and ideals continue to inspire generations.

“In Africa, Nelson Mandela, revered globally as a symbol of justice and reconciliation, chose to serve only one term as President of South Africa, despite immense public pressure to stay longer.

“Indeed, history shows that the longer many African leaders remain in power, the more likely they are to be corrupted by it. Longevity in office is not a mark of success; rather, it is purposeful, accountable service — however brief — that defines true statesmanship.”

The former Anambra governor declared: “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.”

Although Obi claimed his one-term promise was spurred out of genuine concerns, he did not betray emotion by the scepticism that had since trailed his declaration.

He, however, assured Nigerians that the negative reviews he had been getting wouldn’t deter him.

“Recently, I became aware of two statements aimed, albeit indirectly, at my vow to serve only a single four-year term.

“One person remarked that even if I swore by a shrine, I still wouldn’t be believed.

“Another suggested that anyone talking about doing only one term should undergo psychiatric evaluation.

“I understand the basis of their scepticism. They are judging me by their own standards, where political promises are made to be broken.

“But they forget, or perhaps choose to ignore, that Peter Obi is not cut from that cloth. I have a verifiable track record that speaks louder than speculation,” he said.

He emphasised that his resolve to serve only one term of four years was a solemn commitment, rooted in the conviction that purposeful and transparent leadership did not require an eternity.

He further outlined his agenda to sanitise governance, tackle insecurity, prioritise education and transform Nigeria into a productive economy.

“Forty-eight months is enough for any leader who is focused and prepared to make a meaningful difference.

“These are not utopian dreams. They are realistic, actionable goals that are achievable within four years,” he maintained.

Speaking with The PUNCH on the issue, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, noted that as a party, the LP had a programme that everyone elected on its platform must stick with.

He said, “The Labour Party has a programme to implement when it gets into government. Regardless of who the party fields as its presidential candidate in 2027, the person will run with the programmes and policies of the party.

“I think it is too early to start talking about 2031 when we are still trying to sort out 2027. The LP has thrown its presidential ticket open. We don’t even know who will emerge as the candidate because there are so many people who have shown interest.

“As our former presidential candidate, we wish Obi well in his career, including his ambition to govern for one term. The politician in him has seen that it is the right thing to do, and if that is what he wants to do, we are fine.”

On his part, the spokesperson to Senator Usman’s faction, Ken Asogwa, backed Obi to turn the fortunes of the nation around in four years if given the opportunity.

He said, “Mr Peter Obi’s one-term promise is anchored in character and track record. He has consistently maintained that if it took this present administration just two years to plunge Nigeria into its current sorry state, then four years would be more than sufficient to begin the process of putting the country back on a sound and progressive trajectory.

“We understand that some Nigerians harbour legitimate fears – that the allure of office may eventually cause him to walk back on this solemn pledge, especially as such promises are not legally binding.

“However, when leaders make commitments, the public must turn to history and examine their past conduct. That is where true assurances lie – not in mere words, but in character and precedent.”

According to Asogwa, “As governor of Anambra State, Obi kept faith with the people. He governed in strict adherence to the constitution and the rule of law, so much so that he was impeached by the state House of Assembly for being uncompromising in his commitment to transparency, accountability, and due process. He challenged that impeachment in court, won, and was reinstated – a first in Nigerian political history.

“That singular act demonstrated the kind of leadership he represents: one rooted in principle, not convenience.

“As a political party, we do not doubt his integrity. We are confident that, if entrusted with the presidency, Mr Obi would honour his word and serve only one term, as he has repeatedly promised. History is filled with examples of principled leaders who chose to serve their people for just one term, even when a second was within reach.”

The Director of Publicity of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, described Obi as a man playing to the gallery, saying his words lacked sincerity.

“He is playing to the gallery. Obi is not sincere. What is there to guarantee that he will stick to the agreement if he is given the opportunity, knowing that he has the constitutional right to go for eight years? All these are antics aimed at deceiving the electorate or deceiving the coalition to give him the ticket. This is a proof of his desperation for power,” he said.

He added that “Obi is not doing this for the good of the country. He has nothing to offer. The APC is doing everything to bring democratic dividends to the people, and the reforms introduced by the government are beginning to yield fruits.

“They have seen this, and that is why they are coming up with shenanigans of ‘give me one term.’ Obi will not respect that agreement.”
(PUNCH)

Related Topics:#Presidency Obi Peter Obi

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Politics

In Defence Of Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe: The Generational Shift Reshaping Edo Politics

Published

16 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

By DAN Osa-Ogbegie

For decades, Edo politics remained trapped within a narrow and predictable cycle of political recycling. The same ageing actors moved endlessly from one office to another, from one administration to the next, and from one political alignment to another, as though leadership in Edo State had become the exclusive inheritance of a permanent political aristocracy.

Meanwhile, thousands of intelligent, energetic, and capable young Edo people watched helplessly from the margins while opportunities for leadership, governance, party administration, and public service remained tightly controlled by individuals whose political relevance dated back several decades.

That unhealthy political culture is now gradually changing.

Today, one of the most important political transformations taking place within the All Progressives Congress in Edo State is the deliberate transition from recycled political gerontocracy to a younger generation of political actors. That transition is unfolding under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State and Leader of the APC in Edo State, together with the State Chairman of the party, Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe.

Predictably, such a shift has unsettled entrenched interests.

Those who became accustomed to monopolising political relevance naturally feel threatened by the emergence of a younger generation that is increasingly assertive, visible, influential, and institutionally empowered. Yet, history teaches a simple lesson: no political structure survives indefinitely without renewal.

No serious political party can continue recycling the same exhausted political machinery forever while expecting innovation, grassroots energy, modern governance ideas, and long-term political sustainability.

That reality appears to be clearly understood by Governor Monday Okpebholo and Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe.

Much of the criticism unfairly directed at Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe in recent times stems from the fact that he has become one of the visible faces of this generational transition within Edo APC. Beneath the noise, propaganda, and political bitterness lies an undeniable truth: the party is consciously opening spaces for younger people in ways not seen for many years.

From the youthful Deputy Chairman of APC in Edo State, Sylvester Aigboboh, to several younger commissioners, Special Advisers, members of the State Executive Council, board chairmen, local government administrators, and strategic appointees across government, the evidence of deliberate political renewal is becoming increasingly impossible to ignore.

In Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Hon. Austin Imafidon has emerged as one of the young faces of focused governance and grassroots administration. Beyond politics, he has already established himself successfully in business, bringing into governance the mindset of productivity, enterprise, and modern administrative engagement.

In Etsako, Hon. Sunny Ekpeson has continued to attract national attention as the youngest ALGON Chairman in Nigeria, representing a clear departure from the era where local government leadership was treated as the permanent preserve of ageing political operators disconnected from younger demographics.

In Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Hon. Eric Osawaru represents another example of the younger political generation now entrusted with leadership responsibilities, while in Oredo Local Government Area, Engr. Gabriel Iduseri equally reflects the growing confidence being reposed in younger administrators within the APC structure.

In Owan, Hon. Aitalegbe Ernest, popularly known as “China Boy,” has also emerged as one of the prominent young political figures gaining traction as the incoming Chairman of the local government, further reinforcing the expanding generational transition currently taking shape across Edo State.

The same pattern is visible across government institutions and strategic agencies.

Pastor Stanley Dave Ighodaro, a successful entrepreneur with thriving business interests in Europe, now heads the Edo State Parks and Gardens Agency. His emergence reflects an increasingly important shift towards bringing professionally exposed and globally minded younger individuals into governance and public administration.

Similarly, Kassim Otono, who serves as Special Adviser on Oil and Gas to the Executive Governor of Edo State, represents another example of younger technocratic involvement within the present administration. His inclusion within such a strategic sector underscores the growing confidence being placed in younger professionals and politically aware technocrats within government.

This is how enduring institutions are built.

A political party that refuses to regenerate itself eventually becomes intellectually stagnant, structurally weak, and electorally disconnected from evolving social realities.

Governor Monday Okpebholo deserves commendation for recognising that governance in a rapidly changing society cannot remain permanently tied to political methods and leadership assumptions developed several decades ago. Contemporary governance demands adaptability, technological awareness, stronger grassroots engagement, administrative energy, and a deeper connection with younger populations.

Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe equally deserves credit for helping stabilise the party while managing this difficult but necessary transition process. Generational shifts are never easy within political systems historically dominated by established interests. Resistance is inevitable. Political resentment is expected. Internal anxieties naturally emerge whenever old monopolies begin to weaken.

Leadership, however, requires courage.

The recently concluded primaries further revealed this evolving direction within the APC. The emergence of candidates such as Rt. Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Osazee Igbinovia, Dr. Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu, Omosede Igbinedion, Sir Lucky Eseigbe, and Odianosen Okojie reflects a growing political philosophy that increasingly values capacity, grassroots relevance, contemporary appeal, and generational continuity.

Equally symbolic is the emergence of several young Acting Local Government Council Chairmen who are now candidates of the party in the forthcoming local government elections. That development sends a powerful message across Edo State that political participation is gradually becoming more accessible to younger people with competence, commitment, and organisational value.

For too long, many young people in Edo politics were reduced to political spectators, social media defenders, praise singers, or election-day foot soldiers while actual power remained tightly guarded elsewhere. Such a model was never sustainable.

A society that continuously sidelines its younger generation ultimately weakens its own political future.

The ongoing transition within Edo APC does not amount to hostility towards elders or experienced political actors. Experience remains valuable. Elder statesmen still possess institutional memory and political wisdom that younger actors can benefit from immensely. Mentorship, however, must never become political suffocation. Guidance must never evolve into permanent political domination.

Every generation deserves the opportunity to participate meaningfully in shaping the future it will eventually inherit.

That is precisely why the current direction of the APC leadership in Edo State deserves objective acknowledgement rather than emotional hostility.

Many of those attacking Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe today are not truly angry about party administration. Their deeper discomfort arises from the reality that political influence is gradually shifting away from old centres of control towards a newer generation of actors who may no longer depend entirely on traditional political gatekeepers for relevance or survival.

Societies evolve.

Political cultures evolve.

Leadership itself evolves.

No generation owns political power forever.

Ultimately, the future of Edo State cannot be built exclusively around recycled political veterans whose greatest political moments belong largely to the past. A forward-looking society must continuously create room for younger leadership, newer ideas, fresh administrative energy, and modern political thinking.

That future is already unfolding within the APC in Edo State.

History may eventually remember Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe and Governor Monday Okpebholo as central figures in the difficult but necessary political transition that began moving Edo away from recycled political dominance towards a broader and younger leadership culture capable of preparing the state for a different era.

Daniel Aroren Noah Osa-Ogbegie is a Benin based legal practitioner and public intellectual from Uhunmwode Local Government Area.

Politics

JUST IN: Omo-Agege Resigns From APC

Published

17 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect.

In a letter to the Chairman of Orogun Ward 2, Ughelli North Local Government, Delta State, dated May 22, 2026, Omo-Agege said after reviewing recent developments within the ruling party and consulting with his associates and supporters, it is clear that his political objectives and those of his constituents are better served outside the party.

“I will not remain a sitting duck in a party where I cannot advance the interests of Delta Central, Delta State and Nigeria,” he said.

On Ovie Omo-Agege’s castle-in-the-air
“I thank the APC for the opportunity to serve as Deputy President of the 9th Senate. I wish the party well and have requested that my name be removed from all membership records, registers, and communication lists,” Omo-Agege added.

Omo-Agege, in a statement by his media adviser, Sunny Areh, affirmed that his focus remains on delivering development and effective representation for Delta Central, Delta State, and Nigeria. He added that he will seek to pursue these goals outside the APC.

Details shortly…

Politics

Amaechi Rejects ‘Concocted’ ADC Presidential Primary Results

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

Former Minister of Transportation and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected the outcome of the party’s presidential primary election, describing the exercise as deeply flawed and lacking credibility.

The ADC on Monday conducted a nationwide direct primary to select its candidate for the 2027 presidential election, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former Managing Director of the defunct FSB International Bank, and Amaechi emerging as the leading contenders.

Reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday, Amaechi alleged widespread voter disenfranchisement, manipulation and serious electoral malpractice during the exercise, insisting that the results being announced were “concocted” and did not reflect the will of party members.

According to him, the primary process was compromised from the outset, with several genuine party members allegedly denied the opportunity to participate in the election across different states.

Amaechi accused some party officials of undermining the integrity of the exercise through what he described as coordinated irregularities capable of damaging the credibility of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He maintained that the conduct of the primary fell short of the democratic standards, transparency and fairness expected in a credible internal party election.

The former Rivers State governor called on the leadership of the ADC to urgently address the alleged irregularities and protect the democratic rights of party members.

He warned that failure to uphold transparency and internal democracy could weaken public confidence in the party and its ability to present itself as a viable alternative ahead of the next general elections.

Amaechi’s rejection of the process is expected to deepen internal tensions within the ADC as opposition realignments and political calculations ahead of 2027 continue to gather momentum.