A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Sani, has expressed doubts over Peter Obi’s ability to keep his vow to serve only one term if elected president in 2027, saying the Labour Party candidate’s loyal supporters might not allow him to step down after four years.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Sani clarified that his skepticism was not about Obi’s personal integrity, but about political realities and the influence of his support base.
“Mr. Peter Obi could be very sincere. After I made that comment, some people responded by saying even if he went to a shrine to swear, they would not believe him. Others called it tales by moonlight,” Sani said.
He added: “The issue I raised is not about Obi’s integrity but about how he panders to his supporters. We all know that his supporters will not agree to one term because the Constitution allows two. If his first-term performance is impressive, they will push him to continue.”
Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, had on July 1, 2025, declared that he would not stay in office beyond four years if elected in 2027, pledging to “show the direction of good governance” within that time.
However, the statement has continued to spark debate among political stakeholders, with critics arguing that such a promise may be impractical in Nigeria’s political climate.
Sani also used the interview to pitch former President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP’s strongest option for the 2027 race, describing him as a candidate whose return would serve the interest of the northern region.
“We are not looking at Jonathan from the promise angle. That has been resolved. The law has already taken care,” Sani stated.
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