Single term pledge, a joke taken too far — Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has described the single term pledge by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a joke taken too far.

In a statement, Keyamo described the move as a political 419 designed to deceive the Nigerian electorate ahead of the next general elections.

The NDC’s decision, announced following its National Convention in Abuja last Saturday, aims to field a Southern candidate who would theoretically serve only one term to facilitate a quick power rotation.

However, Keyamo dismissed the pledge as an audacious attempt to hoodwink Nigerians, comparing it to the 2011 undertaking by former President Goodluck Jonathan to serve only one full term, a promise that ultimately led to significant political friction when he sought re-election in 2015.

Keyamo raised concerns about the enforceability of such a verbal or internal party agreement, pointing specifically to the potential candidacy of Peter Obi.

He questioned what would prevent a sitting president from reneging on the deal once in power.

“What happens if Peter Obi changes his party, assuming he wins, or as leader of the NDC he gets the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to reverse the decision?” Keyamo asked.

He argued that the proposal is an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians and highlights a sense of desperation within the opposition ranks.

According to the Minister, the single-term strategy underscores the challenges facing the opposition as they attempt to mount a formidable challenge in 2027.

He suggested that the arrangement is not a genuine policy shift but rather a joke taken too far to navigate the complex waters of Nigerian power rotation.

“This smacks of outright desperation and actually accentuates the dilemma of the opposition as a whole in the 2027 presidential elections,” Keyamo stated.

The NDC had previously defended the single-term arrangement as a necessary measure to promote balance, inclusivity, and internal consensus among its stakeholders.