Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has revealed that Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, signed two separate agreements committing to serving only one four-year term if elected president in 2027.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kwankwaso said the arrangement includes one formal agreement involving the NDC and another personal agreement between himself and Obi. According to him, the deal ensures that the presidency will return to Northern Nigeria in 2031 after the completion of an Obi-led administration.
“We have agreed to formalise it in writing. We have executed one document for the party and another between the two of us,” Kwankwaso said.
Expressing confidence in his running mate, he added, “I personally believe him, and, based on what I now know about him, I do not believe he will change his mind when the time comes. We are all gentlemen.”
Kwankwaso explained that both leaders agreed to continue working together after the proposed administration ends. “The agreement is that after four years, we will continue to work together as a group, as a party, and as friends and brothers. After our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North. That is the consensus.”
However, copies of the two agreements have not been made public, and their contents have not been independently verified. It is therefore unclear whether the documents contain enforcement provisions, penalties for non-compliance, or details on how the NDC would choose a northern presidential candidate in 2031. While Peter Obi has repeatedly pledged to serve only one term if elected, he has not publicly confirmed the specific agreements described by Kwankwaso.
The agreement marks a major shift in the relationship between the two politicians, whose proposed alliance collapsed before the 2023 presidential election after they failed to agree on the presidential and vice-presidential tickets. Obi contested under the Labour Party, while Kwankwaso ran on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Reflecting on their renewed partnership, Kwankwaso said, “I now recognise that Peter is a serious politician who has this country at heart. He is someone to be relied upon. When we compared our blueprints, we realised that we share a similar vision and mission for the country. That was why it was easy for us to agree to work together as a family.”
Their alliance followed unsuccessful efforts to build a united opposition through the African Democratic Congress (ADC). After disagreements over zoning, party leadership, court cases, and the presidential ticket, both politicians left the coalition and joined the NDC, where Obi emerged as the presidential candidate and later announced Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Responding to claims that northern voters would reject Obi in 2027, Kwankwaso dismissed the suggestion, pointing to Obi’s performance in the last election. “In the last election, he contested and received over two million votes in Northern Nigeria, and by any standard, two million is a significant figure,” he said.
The disclosure of the one-term agreement is expected to play a key role in the NDC’s campaign as it seeks to reassure northern political leaders and voters ahead of the 2027 general election.
Do you think a publicly released one-term agreement would strengthen voter confidence in the NDC ticket?
