The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, has expressed doubts that Peter Obi will stick to his promise of serving only one term if elected president in 2027.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Sani said northerners would find it hard to believe Obi’s pledge, pointing out that no politician, including Obi, is a saint.
Obi had told his supporters during an X Space session on Sunday that he would serve just one four-year term if elected.
However, Sani said power dynamics change once politicians get into office. He emphasized the long-standing principle of power rotation, which suggests that the North should produce the president after eight years of southern rule.
“After Bola Tinubu’s term, if he wins a second term, power should return to the North,” Sani said. “But we are human beings. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Peter Obi is not a saint; he is not from another planet.”
Sani recalled how previous governments tried to amend the constitution to extend their stay in office, warning that Obi’s promise might face the same challenges.
He added that the power of incumbency and political influence could make it difficult for Obi to leave office after one term.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 presidential election, debates over power rotation and term limits remain at the forefront of political discussions across the country.
