LAGOS — Former Kano State Governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said he believes the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will honour his pledge to serve only a single four-year term if elected in 2027, disclosing that the two men signed a written agreement to that effect.
Advertisements
Kwankwaso made the disclosure in an interview with Channels Television, saying the agreement stipulates that power will revert to the North after Obi completes one four-year term.
Advertisements
Asked whether he was confident Obi would keep to the terms, Kwankwaso said he had no reason to doubt his running mate.
“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, even though we have accepted to put it on paper,” he said.
He said the agreement between him and Obi was separate from one signed with the party, stressing that both documents were binding.
“We have done one for the party, and we have done another one between the two of us,” he said.
Detailing the contents of the pact, Kwankwaso explained that it commits both men and their allies to work together as a team through the tenure, after which power would shift back to the North.
“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,” he said.
Speaking on why he accepted the vice-presidential slot after previously pursuing the presidency himself, Kwankwaso said prevailing political realities favoured a four-year southern presidency ahead of a return 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,” he said. “We believe that should be the consensus of everybody in this country, so we can move together as a family, both North and South.”
Asked whether he intended to run for president in 2031, Kwankwaso said the party’s focus for now remained on its immediate objective, even as longer-term plans were being considered.
“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 has repeatedly stated that he would serve only one term if elected in 2027, previously saying: “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.”
The pledge has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who argue Obi may not honour the commitment if elected.
Advertisements
