Peter Obi’s One-Term Promise ‘Impossible to Keep’ – Ex-APGA Chairman Warns

A former national chairman and founding figure of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chekwas Okorie, has cast doubt on the feasibility of Labour Party’s Peter Obi fulfilling his promise to serve only a single term if elected president in 2027.

The comment follows Obi’s renewed pledge to govern for just four years, a stance he has repeatedly emphasized in recent public engagements. While the former Anambra State governor insists he is not desperate for power, Okorie suggests the contrary, warning that such a promise may be both unrealistic and politically unwise.

In a recent interview, Okorie described the one-term pledge as a reflection of political desperation, noting that the dynamics of power in Nigeria rarely allow such commitments to be honored once one is in office—particularly when backed by a network of political allies with competing interests.

He explained that the intoxicating nature of presidential power, combined with the influence of supporters who may expect returns on their investment, often undermines noble intentions. Drawing parallels with Nigeria’s political past, Okorie recalled how former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly made a similar promise in 2011, only to later abandon it. He also referenced former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s bid for a third term in office, despite early uncertainty about his political future.

According to him, even a well-meaning leader like Peter Obi could struggle to resist the political pressure that comes with the presidency. “When politicians get into power, you begin to hear phrases like ‘any agreement inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution is null and void,’” he noted.

Despite acknowledging Obi’s character as refined and gentlemanly, Okorie insisted that high-level political leadership in Nigeria presents a different and far more complicated reality.

The debate surrounding Obi’s one-term proposal continues to attract intense public interest, particularly as political maneuvering for the 2027 general election gains momentum.