2027: I signed a one-term agreement with Obi — Kwankwaso

By Taiwo Scholarstica

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has revealed that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, signed a written agreement committing to a single four-year tenure if they win the 2027 presidential election.

Kwankwaso made the disclosure during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, saying the arrangement was designed to ensure that power returns to the North after one term in line with the party’s political understanding.

Speaking on Obi’s promise to spend only four years in office, Kwankwaso expressed confidence that the former Anambra State governor would keep his word.

“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.

Asked whether the agreement had been documented, Kwankwaso confirmed that both the party and the two candidates had signed separate agreements.

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

He explained that the understanding was for Obi to complete a single four-year term before power shifts 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.”

Kwankwaso also explained why he accepted the vice-presidential position after previously seeking the presidency, saying the decision was based on the belief that the South should complete a four-year term before power rotates 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.

On whether he intends to contest the presidency in 2031, Kwankwaso said the party’s attention remains on winning the 2027 election while also preparing for the future.

“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.

Peter Obi had earlier, in May, publicly declared that he would serve only one term if elected president, insisting that four years would be enough to implement his plans for the country.

“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