Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has confirmed that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has signed a written agreement with him to serve only a single four-year term and return power to the North if elected president in 2027.
Kwankwaso revealed this in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, saying the pact was designed to ensure power returns to the North after a single four-year term, in accordance with the party’s power-sharing arrangement.
The former Kano State governor stated that he had no reason to question Obi’s commitment to upholding the deal.
“Oh yes, I personally believe him. I don’t think, based on what I now know about him, that he will change his mind when the time comes. We are all gentlemen,” he said.
Speaking on whether the understanding had been documented, Kwankwaso replied that both the party and the two candidates signed separate agreements.
“We have done one for the party, and we have done another one between the two of us,” he said.
Kwankwaso explained that the deal allows Obi to serve for a single four-year term before returning the president to the North.
“The agreement is what you said: that for four years, we will work together, team together as a group, party, friends and brothers so that after his term of four years (2027-2031), it comes back to the North. That is the general agreement.”
He stated that he accepted the vice-presidential slot because both leaders agreed that the South should retain the presidency for only one term before power rotates back to the North.
“Together we felt that the presidency should go to the South for four years; thereafter it will come back to the North.
“We believe that should be the consensus of everybody in this country so that we can move together as a family, both North and South,” he said.
Speaking on whether he intends to contest the presidency in 2031, Kwankwaso said the party remained focused on winning the 2027 election while keeping its long-term political plans in view.
“We have a short-term plan which we are executing now, and, of course, we also have our medium- and long-term plans for the country, and that is what we are working on now,” he said.
Obi declared in May that if elected president, he would serve only one term, citing the need to ensure political stability and national unity.
“I want to be a one-term president because of stability. I would not stay a day, with a gun to my head, longer than four years,” Obi had said.
