Obi, I signed pact for one-term presidency – Kwankwaso

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has reportedly stated that he and his party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have entered into a written agreement whereby they promised to serve a four-year term of office only if they win the 2027 presidential polls.

In an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Kwankwaso expressed optimism that Obi will abide by the agreement.

“The arrangement is that after the first term, power will revert back to the North,” he noted.

When asked whether Obi’s commitment to serve only one term was unbreakable, Kwankwaso said that he has no grounds 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. We are all gentlemen, even though we have accepted to put it on paper,” he said.

Confirming that the agreement was documented, Kwankwaso revealed that both the party and the two candidates 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 content of the pact, he said:

«”The agreement is that after four years, we will work together as a group, as a party, as friends and brothers, so that after his term, or our term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North. That is the general agreement.”»

Kwankwaso also explained why he accepted the vice-presidential position despite previously aspiring to become president.

According to him, the prevailing political circumstances favour a four-year presidency in the South before power rotates back 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 is 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.

Peter Obi had earlier, in May, pledged to serve only one term if elected president.

“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.