El-Rufai Dismisses Obi, Amaechi’s Single-Term Promises Unrealistic

El-Rufai Dismisses Obi, Amaechi’s Single-Term Promises Unrealistic

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has urged ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to refrain from making promises of serving only one presidential term, asserting that such pledges lack credibility among Nigerians.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai criticised the notion, emphasising that both Amaechi and Obi, having governed their respective states, should understand that four years is insufficient to implement substantial reforms.

Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has repeatedly stated that he would serve just one term if elected in 2027, arguing that a four-year tenure is adequate to reset the country. He maintains that impactful leadership is measured by results, not duration.

Similarly, Amaechi, now affiliated with the African Democratic Congress, has expressed willingness to serve a single term if nominated, citing his desire to promote political rotation and national stability.

El-Rufai, however, dismissed these declarations as unrealistic. “When people say they’ll serve only one term, I don’t think anyone believes them,” he said. “It’s not right to voluntarily surrender a constitutional right. As someone who governed for eight years, and knowing Amaechi and Obi have similar experience, they should be aware that meaningful change takes time. Four years simply isn’t enough.”

He further noted that politicians often reverse such commitments once in office. “I urge everyone to stop making these promises of ‘four years’ or ‘eight years’—because the public doesn’t buy it,” he added.

El-Rufai also shed light on his support for the southern power shift in the 2023 election, explaining that it was based on an agreement among founding members of the All Progressives Congress. He said he rallied northern governors behind the move, regardless of the opposition’s stance, and described zoning as a strategic tool used by political parties to improve their electoral prospects.