Presidency Criticizes Peter Obi Over Proposed Four-Year Term Deal

The Nigerian presidency has condemned a reported agreement by Peter Obi, presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, to serve only a single four-year term in exchange for Northern political backing. The deal involves a potential ticket with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, which the administration describes as a personal bargain that undermines the long-standing aspirations of the South-East region.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President, stated that the arrangement ignores the historic exclusion of Igbo politicians from the presidency. He argued that the South-East's quest for leadership is more significant than any individual candidate's ambitions. Nkwocha also maintained that an Obi-Kwankwaso alliance lacks the structural depth and national reach necessary to win a general election.

Nkwocha further suggested that the current political understanding requires the South to complete an eight-year cycle under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He urged Obi to support Tinubu's second term in 2027, asserting that doing so would better prepare the region for a more sustainable future Igbo presidential bid.