Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has responded to recent comments questioning his mental health over his pledge to serve only one term if elected president.
Obi, in a statement issued by Ibrahim Umar of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), addressed separate remarks made by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, and activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
Governor Soludo, speaking at a political rally, suggested that any politician pledging to serve a single term of four years should undergo psychiatric evaluation. Similarly, Adeyanju claimed that even if Obi swore in a shrine to serve only one term, Nigerians would not believe or vote for him.
Reacting to both comments, Obi reaffirmed the sincerity of his one-term commitment and dismissed the insinuations as baseless and insulting.
“Recently, I became aware of two statements aimed, albeit indirectly, at my vow to serve only a single four-year term,” Obi said. “One person remarked that even if I swore by a shrine, I still wouldn’t be believed. Another suggested that anyone talking about doing only one term should undergo a psychiatric evaluation.”
The former Anambra State governor stated that throughout his political career, he has remained consistent and accountable to his promises.
“In my political life, my word is my bond. I fulfilled each of those promises without deviation. I did not swear by a shrine, nor have I been certified mentally unstable as a result of honouring my word,” he added.
Obi further noted that making such a promise is not irrational, pointing to the Nigerian Constitution, which provides for a four-year renewable term for elected presidents.
“If making such a promise qualifies me for psychiatric evaluation, then we may as well question the mental fitness of those who framed our Constitution, which clearly stipulates a four-year renewable tenure,” he stated.
Reiterating his commitment to national development, Obi pledged to focus on transforming Nigeria into a production-driven economy anchored on agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and industrial growth.
Obi’s one-term pledge has remained a subject of political debate, but he maintains that the promise is part of his commitment to deliver measurable progress within a single term and to set a new standard of accountability in governance.
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