2027: Peter Obi Will Betray One-Term Pact — Sambo Warns

Arise News Political Editor Sumner Sambo has predicted that former Anambra State governor Peter Obi could seek a second term if elected president in 2027, despite his pledge to serve only four years.

Sambo made the prediction on Monday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, arguing that political realities could make it difficult for Obi to honour the proposed one-term arrangement.

“Nothing will stop Peter Obi from seeking a second term if he wins. He will betray a one-term pact,” Sambo said, according to Naija News.

He argued that the Nigerian Constitution permits a president to seek re-election for a second four-year term and that a political agreement alone would not necessarily prevent Obi from contesting again.

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has repeatedly pledged to serve only one term if elected in 2027. He has said the commitment is intended to promote political stability and respect the principle of power rotation between northern and southern Nigeria.

His running mate, former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, disclosed in July that he and Obi had signed two agreements committing the former Anambra governor to a single four-year tenure. According to Kwankwaso, the arrangement provides for the presidency to return to northern Nigeria after the proposed administration ends in 2031.

Obi has publicly reaffirmed his commitment, saying he would serve for four years and not a day longer if elected.

However, the precise terms of the agreements have not been made publicly available for independent verification, leaving questions about how the arrangement would be enforced if either party changed position.

In a related development, former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed questioned whether an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would attract sufficient support in northern Nigeria. He urged Obi’s supporters not to attack him over his assessment, citing his experience as Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

The debate over the one-term pledge comes as political parties and opposition figures continue positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.