The Director of Publicity for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bala Ibrahim, has criticized former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s promise to serve a single term if elected President in 2027, describing it as insincere and politically manipulative.
Naijaonpoint Media reports that Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, also took a swipe at politicians making one-term promises. Speaking during a political rally in Anambra South on Saturday, Soludo dismissed such pledges as irrational, stating that any politician who claims they will only serve one term should undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, argued that the Constitution provides for a two-term tenure and questioned the rationale behind limiting oneself unnecessarily.
“How can anybody with a functioning brain say that? Do you think you’re speaking to fools?” Soludo said. “You come to people and say you’ll do only one term, any politician who says that must be sent to a psychiatric home. The person must have some mental problem.”
In response, Peter Obi reiterated on Sunday that his vow to serve only one term remains “sacrosanct.” He emphasized that the rot in the nation has eroded public trust, making promises like his both necessary and symbolic.
However, APC’s Bala Ibrahim dismissed Obi’s statement as dishonest. Speaking to Punch, Ibrahim claimed that Obi is using the one-term promise as a tactic to gain public sympathy and secure political backing.
“He is playing to the gallery. Obi is not sincere,” Ibrahim said. “What’s the guarantee he’ll keep that promise if elected, knowing he constitutionally has the right to serve eight years? This is a tactic meant to deceive the electorate or manipulate the coalition into giving him the ticket. It’s a sign of his desperation for power.”
Ibrahim further argued that Obi’s motivations are self-serving and not in the interest of the country.
“Obi is not doing this for the good of Nigeria. He has nothing to offer. The APC is actively working to deliver democratic dividends, and the reforms introduced by this government are already yielding results. That’s why they’re resorting to these kinds of political gimmicks, asking for one term. But Obi won’t honour that promise.”