The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has pushed back against former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, over his criticism of Peter Obi’s pledge to serve only one term if elected president in 2027, insisting that the commitment represents a sacrifice for national stability rather than a political gamble.
The party’s National Campaign Council, in a statement issued on Friday by its Director-General, Mallam Ibrahim Hussain Abdulkarim, argued that Obi’s proposed four-year tenure is constitutionally permissible and should be assessed based on his ability to deliver meaningful results.
The response followed Okorocha’s remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, where he described Obi’s single-term promise as a risky political arrangement that the South-East could not afford, particularly when the region needed strategic alliances to realise its presidential ambition.
However, the NDC campaign council maintained that the former Anambra State governor’s pledge should not be viewed as a political concession that undermines the region’s interests.
Citing Section 135(2) of the 1999 Constitution, Abdulkarim argued that a Nigerian president is constitutionally entitled to a four-year term and may seek re-election for another four years, making a voluntary decision to serve only one term legally permissible.
He maintained that the Constitution does not compel any president to pursue a second term, adding that Obi’s proposal should instead be judged by the results he promises to achieve within four years.
The council also drew comparisons with Nigeria’s political experience between 2015 and 2023, arguing that an extended presidential tenure did not automatically translate into improved living conditions or national development.
It cited rising inflation, currency depreciation, mounting public debt, widespread poverty and insecurity as evidence of the country’s economic and security challenges during the period.
According to the NDC, Obi’s one-term commitment represents a performance-based approach to leadership, with the former Anambra governor offering to be judged strictly on his achievements rather than the length of time spent in office.
The campaign council further stated that Obi had pledged to leave office in 2031, thereby allowing power to return to the North in line with his proposed arrangement for political balance and national stability.
It argued that Nigeria’s development challenges were not necessarily caused by insufficient presidential tenure but by the failure of successive administrations to translate their time in office into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
The council maintained that Obi’s proposed four-year administration would prioritise measurable achievements, accountability and an orderly transfer of power at the end of the tenure.
It urged Nigerians to assess the proposal based on its potential to address the country’s challenges, insisting that voluntarily relinquishing the opportunity to seek a second term should be seen as a commitment to national interest rather than an electoral risk.
