Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has advised politicians to desist from making promises of serving only one term in office, insisting such commitments are unrealistic and lack credibility.
El-Rufai made the remarks on Sunday during an appearance on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, where he reacted to recent pledges made by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi.
Obi has repeatedly said that if elected president in 2027, he would serve just a single four-year term, arguing that purposeful leadership is defined by impact rather than longevity in power. Amaechi, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has also declared his readiness to step down after one term to promote stability and power rotation.
But el-Rufai dismissed such assurances, describing them as impractical.
“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 argued that politicians who enter office with one-term promises often renege once confronted with the realities of governance.
“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 also reflected on the 2023 general election, revealing that his support for power shift to the south was the outcome of a gentleman’s understanding reached among leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the party was formed.
He explained that he and other northern governors rallied behind the decision without paying attention to what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was planning.
According to him, zoning remains a political tool deployed by parties to strengthen their chances during elections.
“The ADC is still forming,” the former minister noted. “When the party is fully formed, the leadership and founders will sit and decide on zoning. I am not privy to that discussion yet.”