Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has raised critical questions over Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s recent declaration that he would only serve a single term if elected President in 2027.
In a candid interview published by Channels Television on Sunday night, Farotimi said Obi’s promise of a one-term presidency is not new, pointing out that the former Anambra State Governor made similar comments during his 2023 campaign. But this time, Farotimi is demanding clarity and purpose behind the proposal.
“A man says he’s going to spend one term. One term to do what? I think we should ask that question,” Farotimi said during the interview. “If I have a vision that can be contained within my lifetime, then it’s not a vision, it’s just an ambition.”
According to Farotimi, declaring a single-term presidency is not enough. What matters, he argued, is what the person intends to do with that time. “I am more interested in asking questions about his plans. What would you do with the one term?” he pressed.
Obi recently stirred debate when he restated that, if elected in 2027, he would only seek to govern for four years and then hand power back to the North. He made the pledge as a way of respecting the informal power rotation agreement between Nigeria’s North and South.
Nigeria’s political structure has, for years, operated under a “gentleman’s agreement” where power rotates between the Northern and Southern regions of the country after every eight years. President Bola Tinubu, a Southerner, is currently serving his first term after winning the 2023 election.
Peter Obi, who came third in the 2023 race behind Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, has been a vocal critic of the current administration and has hinted at a return to the ballot in 2027.
But Farotimi insists that the length of time a president spends in office is not as important as what is achieved during that period. He cited examples of past Nigerian leaders, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, who both served two terms without, in his view, delivering meaningful development.
“Obasanjo had eight years; what did he do with them? Buhari had eight years; what did he do with it? He ruined Nigeria,” Farotimi said bluntly. “Tinubu has had two years, and he’s taking us back like 50 years.”
He argued that effective governance is not determined by how long a leader stays in office, but by their preparation, policies, and the will to implement real reforms. “If someone has already written out his plans, he does not need so many years to make an impact,” he noted.
Farotimi’s comments add to the growing debate around Obi’s proposed one-term offer. While some Nigerians see it as a sign of selflessness and a willingness to respect political agreements, others see it as unrealistic or even politically naive in a country with deep-rooted structural and institutional challenges.
Critics argue that one term may not be enough to address Nigeria’s major problems such as insecurity, unemployment, inflation, and widespread corruption. Supporters, however, say that with the right team and political will, much can be achieved in four years.
Peter Obi’s political brand has centered on integrity, fiscal prudence, and performance-based leadership. During the 2023 presidential election, he captured significant support, especially among Nigeria’s youth and urban voters, many of whom were dissatisfied with the APC and PDP.
Though he did not win, Obi’s performance shook the traditional political establishment and showed that Nigerians were increasingly open to new options outside the two dominant parties.
As 2027 approaches, Obi has continued to engage with civil society and political groups, and his one-term proposal appears to be a part of his strategy to appeal to regions still skeptical about his candidacy, especially in the North.
Still, Farotimi believes Nigerians should focus less on political slogans and more on demanding clear, workable plans from those seeking power.
“It’s not about saying the right thing,” he said. “It’s about doing the right thing. One term or two terms—what matters is whether the person is truly prepared to govern.”
With the Tinubu administration still facing criticism over economic hardship, subsidy removal, and a weakening naira, the road to 2027 promises to be competitive. But as Farotimi rightly pointed out, Nigerians will need more than promises they need results.
