El-Rufai Dismisses Obi And Amaechi’s Single-Term Pledges For 2027 Presidency.
Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, has publicly criticised Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi for their promises to serve only a single four-year term if elected Nigeria’s president in 2027, declaring such pledges “unrealistic” and lacking credibility. Speaking on Channels Television’s *Sunday Politics* programme on 31 August 2025, El-Rufai argued that Nigerians are unlikely to believe such commitments, given the complexities of governance and the duo’s experience as former governors.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has repeatedly stated he would serve just one term if elected in 2027 under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) banner, insisting that four years is sufficient to “reset Nigeria” through impactful leadership. Similarly, Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, has pledged to step down after a single term if he secures the ADC’s presidential ticket, citing the need for power rotation and stability. Both men, who previously served as governors for eight years, are part of an opposition coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the next election.
El-Rufai, now a prominent figure in the ADC coalition, dismissed these promises as impractical, drawing on his own eight-year tenure as governor. “Now, on the question of people coming out and saying, ‘I will do one term’, I don’t think anyone believes that,” he said. “I don’t think it is right. You should not constitutionally give up what is yours. And frankly, as someone who has been governor for eight years, and Amaechi and Peter Obi have both been governors, they know the time it takes to make meaningful change in government. Four years is not enough.” He further cautioned that politicians often renege on such pledges once in office, as circumstances and political realities shift.
The former governor’s remarks come amid heightened political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 election. Obi and Amaechi’s single-term promises are seen as strategic moves to align with an unwritten rotational presidency agreement, ensuring power shifts to the North by 2031, following President Tinubu’s first term as a Southerner. However, El-Rufai argued that such commitments undermine the constitutional right to seek re-election and fail to account for the time required to implement substantial reforms. “So, I want to appeal to everyone to stop making these commitments of ‘I will do four years’ or ‘I will do eight years’, because nobody believes you,” he added.
El-Rufai’s critique has sparked debate within political circles, with some viewing it as a challenge to the opposition’s strategy to rally support. The ADC coalition, which includes heavyweights like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, is grappling with internal dynamics as it seeks a unified front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). While Obi remains committed to the Labour Party but open to the ADC platform, Amaechi’s potential candidacy is seen as a fallback option if Atiku and Obi cannot reconcile their ambitions.
The controversy highlights the complexities of Nigeria’s political landscape, where promises of brevity in office are met with scepticism. As the 2027 election approaches, El-Rufai’s call for politicians to focus on delivering results rather than making “empty declarations” underscores the need for credibility in a nation wary of unfulfilled pledges.