Peter Obi’s promise to serve just one term if elected in 2027 has drawn a lot of attention. However, such a pledge would only truly matter if it became part of the country’s laws or official policy.
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) openly praised Obi's credibility on August 11, 2025, claiming that Nigerians may be sure he will fulfill his four-year tenure pledge because of his reputation for honesty. This support came after Obi reiterated the pledge earlier in August, stating that the quality of services provided, not tenure, is the true indicator of effective governance. He cited the examples of influential world leaders who had a lasting impression in short periods of time.
In the past, many campaign promises in Nigeria have gone unfulfilled, especially when there are no laws to enforce them. Obi’s pledge also connects to the country’s informal agreement to rotate the presidency between the North and South. By promising to serve only one term, Obi seems to be showing support for this arrangement and may be making it easier for a Northern leader to take office in 2031.
But without rules to enforce these promises, leaders can still be influenced by political and personal pressures. After taking office, they often face encouragement from their parties, allies, and interest groups to stay longer than they first promised.
Obi may mean well, but Nigerians need more than good intentions. In a country as complex as Nigeria, robust systems are necessary for effective governance. Without legal or constitutional support, a one-term promise is just a hope that can quickly change.
If this promise were to become official policy, it could set a new standard for political accountability. It would show that leaders’ commitments to voters can last beyond elections and personal interests.
Recommendations / Solutions:
- Legislative Codification: The National Assembly should consider a bill enabling voluntary single-term agreements, binding candidates who opt for them to a fixed tenure through constitutional or statutory instruments.
- Independent Oversight: Civil society organisations should form a non-partisan monitoring coalition to track campaign promises, including tenure commitments, and publish periodic compliance reports.
- Transparent Governance Benchmarks: The Obi campaign—and any other political aspirant making similar pledges—should outline measurable goals for the proposed single term and commit to independent evaluation at mid-term and exit points.
Campaign promises come and go, but institutions last. True political integrity is measured not by what is said at rallies, but by the systems that make those promises real.
Lawmakers should start turning voluntary one-term pledges into real policy. Civil society groups should push for these promises to come with legal backing and clear performance goals. When integrity is built into the system, it becomes more than a campaign slogan; it becomes a standard for governance.
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