A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Sani, has expressed doubts over Labour Party’s Peter Obi keeping his recent pledge to serve only one term if elected president in 2027.
According to Sani, even if Obi intends to honour the promise, it may be derailed by pressure from his supporters.
Speaking on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television, Sani said Obi’s personal integrity was not the issue but noted that his supporters could become a major obstacle to fulfilling the commitment.
“Now, Mr. Peter Obi could be very sincere, you know. After I made that comment, some other people followed up the comments, and some even went further to say that even if he went to the shrine to swear, they would not believe him,” the PDP chieftain told the morning show crew on Tuesday from Channels Television’s Abuja studio.
“Some others said he’s just giving tales by moonlight, but by whatever way they are trying to address him, the issue I raised is not about Obi’s integrity but about how he panders to his supporters.
“Now we all know that his supporters will not agree [to the one term] because the Constitution says you are supposed to do two terms, and then you are giving promises for one term. Perhaps more importantly, if his performance in the first term is something to write home about, they will now urge him to continue.
“So there are so many obstacles to that promise. It is a promise made, but may not be a promise kept. So, the issue is not whether Obi will keep the promise; it’s whether they will allow him to keep the promise.”
Obi had made the one-term pledge on July 1 during the Sunday Politics programme, declaring: “I don’t need a day more than four years. I will show the direction of good governance.”
The statement has since drawn widespread reactions from political stakeholders, including Sani, who remains sceptical about its feasibility.
Sani also weighed in on what he sees as a more viable option for the PDP going into the next presidential race. According to him, former President Goodluck Jonathan remains the most favourable choice, particularly for the northern region.
“So we are not looking at Jonathan from the promised angle. That has been resolved. The law has already taken care,” he said.
“He cannot do more than one term. So if he cannot do more than one term by the provisions of the law and the constitution, then the only thing remaining for him is to do that one term and go away.”
