2027 Ticket: Kwankwaso Confirms Written One-Term Pact with Peter Obi

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, says he believes the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will honour his pledge to serve only one four-year term if elected in 2027, revealing that both men signed a written agreement to that effect.

Kwankwaso disclosed this during an interview aired on Channels Television on Monday, where he said the agreement provides that power would return to the North after a single four-year tenure.

Asked whether Obi’s commitment to serving only four years was “sacrosanct,” Kwankwaso said he had no reason to doubt the former Anambra State governor.

“Oh yes, I personally believe him and… I don’t think, based on what I now know about him… he will change his mind when the time comes, and we are all gentlemen,” he said.

Responding to a question on whether the agreement had been put in writing, Kwankwaso said both the party and he and Obi had signed separate agreements.

“We have done one for the party and we have done another one between the two of us,” he said.

Explaining the contents of the agreement, Kwankwaso said, “The agreement is what you said, that after four years… we will work together, team together as a group, as a party, as friends, brothers and so on… so that after his term, or our term, of four years, 2027 to 2031, then it comes back to the North, and that is the general agreement.”

On why he accepted the vice-presidential slot despite previously pursuing the presidency, Kwankwaso said the current political circumstances supported a four-year southern presidency before power returns to the North.

“Together we felt that the presidency should go to the South for four years; thereafter it will come back to the North. We believe that should be the consensus of everybody in this country so that we can move together as a family, both North and South,” he said.

When asked whether he planned to contest the presidency in 2031, Kwankwaso said the party was focused on its immediate objective while keeping future plans in view.

“We have a short-term plan which we are executing now and, of course, we also have our medium and long-term plans for the country, and that is what we are working on now,” he said.

Obi had in May pledged to serve only one term if elected president, saying he would not remain in office beyond four years.

“I want to be a one-term president because of stability. I would not stay a day, with a gun to my head, longer than four years,” Obi had said.