The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election, signed an agreement committing to serve only one term if elected.
Kwankwaso made the disclosure on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he explained that the agreement formed the foundation of the alliance between the two politicians ahead of the 2027 general election.
The former Kano State governor said he trusted Obi to honour the agreement, describing him as a politician who genuinely has Nigeria’s interests 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 also said his opinion of Obi had changed since the 2023 presidential election, adding that he now considers the former Anambra State governor a dependable political 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 on several occasions stated that he would serve only one term if elected president in 2027.
The former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate has said a single term would allow power to return to the North in 2031, which he believes would promote fairness, national unity and political stability.
Obi has also maintained that his one-term pledge is based on his commitment to Nigeria’s zoning arrangement and not an attempt to remain in office for the two terms permitted by the Constitution.