The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, has cast doubt on Peter Obi’s pledge to serve only one term if elected president in 2027, saying it would be difficult for northerners– or even many Nigerians– to believe such a promise.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Sani said no one was aspiring to lead Nigeria in 2027– including the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate– is “a saint.”
His remarks come in response to Obi’s recent comment during an X Space session with supporters, where the former Anambra State governor reportedly stated he would honour a one-term agreement if elected in the next general election.
But Sani dismissed the idea as unrealistic, arguing that once politicians get into office, the reality of power often overrides initial promises.
“Yes, Mr Peter Obi can agree to say: ‘I am going to do one term,’ but the northerners will tell you that after Bola Tinubu’s term, if he gets the (second) election, it should come to the north,” Sani said.
He argued that Nigeria’s political culture has repeatedly shown how difficult it is for leaders to resist the trappings of power once in office.
“But we are human beings. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Peter Obi is not a saint; he is not somebody who is from another planet. We have seen successive governments trying to see how they can turn the constitution around and give themselves a third term and things like that,” he said.
Sani, who also cited the principle of rotational presidency, argued that after eight years of Southern leadership under President Bola Tinubu, power should naturally shift back to the North.
Tinubu, who hails from the South-West, is expected to complete his first term by May 2027 and has already declared interest in seeking re-election.
Sani added that aside from the constitutional and political realities, Obi’s path to power would also face steep obstacles from entrenched interests.
“This is why it would be difficult for a lot of people to believe Mr Peter Obi that after one term, he would leave. And then how would he even succeed if you look at the sentimental aspect of it, the state capture, and power of incumbency,” he said.
The IPAC chairman’s comments add to growing skepticism surrounding Obi’s political future, particularly as conversations around zoning, credibility, and trust dominate early 2027 election discourse.
