Rabiu Kwankwaso, NDC vice-presidential candidate, revealed Peter Obi signed an agreement to serve only one four-year term if elected president in 2027, ensuring power returns to northern Nigeria after 2031. The pact, formalized in two documents, aims to uphold Nigeria’s informal regional power rotation.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, confirmed that presidential candidate Peter Obi has signed an agreement to serve only one four-year term if elected. The arrangement, disclosed during an interview on Channels Television, includes a promise that power will return to northern Nigeria after 2031, reinforcing the country’s informal regional power rotation tradition.
The Agreement Details
Kwankwaso described the deal as a formalized understanding between himself and Obi, with two separate documents signed to solidify the commitment. We have done one for the party, and we have done another one between the two of us,
he said, emphasizing that the agreement ensures Obi’s presidency would not extend beyond 2031. The NDC candidate expressed confidence that Obi would honor the pact, stating, I personally believe him. Based on what I know about him, I don’t think he will change his mind when the time comes.
The agreement aligns with the long-standing, though unwritten, principle of rotating Nigeria’s presidency between the North and South. Kwankwaso framed the deal as a consensus to strengthen national unity, arguing that the South should produce the president for a single term before power shifts back to the North. The agreement is that after four years, we will continue to work together as a party, as friends and brothers, so that after our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North,
he explained.
Power Rotation Context
The arrangement reflects Nigeria’s historical pattern of power sharing between the country’s two major regions. With President Bola Tinubu, a southerner, expected to complete his first term by 2027, Obi’s one-term pledge preserves the zoning principle. Kwankwaso noted that Obi had previously indicated willingness to serve a single term, arguing it would promote national unity and equitable power sharing. I have confidence that he will honour what we agreed. We documented it because we believe agreements should be respected,
he said.
Obi’s commitment to a one-term presidency has sparked political debate ahead of the 2027 election, particularly around the issue of zoning and power distribution among Nigeria’s political blocs. Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, underscores the party’s focus on northern interests, with the agreement positioning him as a key figure in the 2027 campaign.
Implications and Uncertainties
The pact’s success depends on Obi’s ability to maintain unity within the NDC and navigate the complex political landscape of 2027. Kwankwaso, who previously sought the presidency, framed his vice-presidential nomination as a strategic move based on the need for equity, fairness and national balance. However, the agreement’s enforceability remains untested.
For now, the agreement underscores the NDC’s attempt to position itself as a credible alternative in 2027, leveraging Kwankwaso’s regional influence and Obi’s national profile. Whether the pact translates into electoral success will depend on the party’s ability to deliver on its promises and navigate the entrenched power structures of Nigerian politics.
Sources: Tribuneonlineng, Therealmediang.
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