Peter Obi reaffirms one-term pledge, backs power rotation and strong opposition
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement, pledging to serve only one term if elected president in 2027.
He also vowed to strengthen democratic institutions by supporting a vibrant opposition and preventing elected officials from defecting across party lines.
Obi made these remarks on Sunday, June 29, during a Twitter Space discussion hosted by Parallel Facts.
“If you take the arrangement—which is, understandably, what you can call an unwritten agreement—that power would go South and North, and if that arrangement is to be followed strictly, you would see that anybody, not just me, who happens to come from the South as president in 2027 must be ready to leave on the 28th of May (not 29th), 2031,” he said.
He highlighted his long-standing support for zoning, referencing his time as governor of Anambra State.
“I campaigned for zoning. I championed zoning in Anambra State. That is one of the reasons today some people feel we must deal with this man. I insisted on it, I maintained it, and I followed it to the last letter. Till today, I still follow it religiously,” Obi stated.
He also committed to upholding political integrity by discouraging defection among elected officials.
“My presidency will ensure there is a strong opposition in party politics. There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge,” he declared.
Obi criticized current political leaders for neglecting critical national issues while focusing on ceremonial functions.
“Imagine in this country, people are dying in Benue, Borno, and other parts of the country, and our leaders are commissioning bus stops and holidaying,” he said.
Distancing himself from politically motivated alliances, Obi said any coalition formed merely for power-sharing would not have his support.
“If the coalition is about sharing tickets and power for its sake, count me out. I’m not interested. I want a coalition that stops the killings in Borno, puts food on people’s tables, and gets our industries working,” he concluded.
