ABUJA, Nigeria — Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed confidence that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will honor his pledge to serve only a single four-year term if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Kwankwaso made the remarks during an interview on News Central’s 60 Minutes with Mr. Kay, where he addressed growing public debate over Obi’s commitment to a one-term presidency and the power-sharing arrangement within the opposition coalition.
The former Kano State governor said he had no reason to question Obi’s sincerity, noting that the former Anambra State governor made the commitment publicly and in the presence of Nigerians.
According to Kwankwaso, Obi’s declaration reflects both personal integrity and the understanding reached among members of the coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“I personally believe Peter Obi is a gentleman and I have every reason to trust him, especially that he said it to the hearing of everybody. Nobody should have any reason to doubt him,” Kwankwaso said.
He explained that the coalition’s political arrangement is founded on mutual trust and a shared commitment to the principle of power rotation, which members believe should guide leadership transitions in the country.
Kwankwaso argued that the southern region should complete what the coalition considers its eight-year turn in the presidency before power rotates to another part of the country.
He said the agreement was reached openly among coalition members and expressed confidence that no participant would seek to renege on the understanding after making such commitments publicly.
“We believe the southern part of the country should complete its second term and, with that, and to the hearing of everybody in this country, I don’t believe any gentleman would want to renege, would want to say no or change his or her mind,” he stated.
Beyond the issue of zoning, Kwankwaso said the NDC coalition has focused on developing a comprehensive governance agenda rather than merely forming an electoral alliance around individual political figures.
According to him, coalition members have jointly prepared short-term, medium-term and long-term policy frameworks designed to address Nigeria’s economic, security and governance challenges if the party wins the 2027 presidential election.
He stressed that the coalition’s vision extends beyond any single candidate, insisting that whoever eventually occupies the presidency under the NDC platform would be expected to implement the agreed policy programme.
“More importantly, we have collectively gotten a short-term, medium-term and, of course, long-term plan for this country. It does not matter whether it is him from the Obidient side, or my humble self from the Kwankwasiyya side or another side, we believe we have an agenda,” he said.
Kwankwaso added that continuity would remain central to the coalition’s governance philosophy, explaining that the alliance intends to ensure its policy direction survives changes in political leadership.
He maintained that the coalition’s objective is to establish a governance framework capable of delivering sustained development regardless of who ultimately leads the administration, emphasizing that all members remain committed to implementing the agreed programme.
His remarks come as political parties and emerging alliances continue consultations and strategic positioning ahead of the 2027 general election, with issues of zoning, power rotation and coalition-building expected to remain central to Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
