Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has reaffirmed his commitment to serving only one term if elected president in 2027.
Obi made the declaration during an interview scheduled to air on News Central TV on Thursday, insisting that nothing would make him stay in office beyond four years.
“I want to be a one-term president because of stability,” Obi said.
“I would not stay a day longer than four years, even with a gun to my head.”
The former Anambra State governor explained that his decision was rooted in the need to preserve political stability and respect Nigeria’s unwritten zoning arrangement between the North and South.
Obi also criticised the administration of Bola Tinubu, accusing the government of worsening economic hardship through rising borrowing and increasing living costs.
According to him, Nigeria is currently experiencing one of its most difficult economic periods.
He argued that leadership should focus on improving the welfare of citizens instead of holding on to political power.
The former presidential candidate has repeatedly maintained his one-term position since joining opposition coalition talks in 2025 before later aligning with the Nigerian Democratic Congress alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
During a Twitter Space held in June 2025, Obi stated that any southern candidate elected president in 2027 should leave office by May 28, 2031, to maintain the country’s regional power-sharing balance.
He also cited global figures such as Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Nelson Mandela as examples of leaders remembered for impact rather than length of time in office.
Obi’s latest remarks are expected to further shape political conversations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
