Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has publicly challenged the pledge by Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi to serve only one term if elected president, declaring that meaningful change cannot be achieved in just four years.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai expressed strong skepticism about such commitments.
He argued that, based on his experience as a two-term governor, as well as that of Obi and Amaechi—who also served eight-year tenures—real governance requires more time to deliver tangible results.
“On the question of people coming out and say I will do one term, I don’t think anyone believes them. I don’t think it is right, and frankly, as someone that has been governor for eight years, and Amaechi and Peter Obi have both been governors for eight years, they know the time it takes to make meaningful change in government. So, four years is not enough.”
El-Rufai emphasised that complex national issues demand sustained effort and policy consistency beyond a single term. His comments directly counter the promise made by Obi and Amaechi to serve only one term and return power to the North, a pledge seen by some as a political strategy to promote regional balancing.
The remark has stirred reactions, highlighting ongoing debates about tenure, effectiveness, and the political calculations shaping the upcoming electoral contest.
Obi and Amaechi both from the South joined the ADC coalition with other opposition figures seeking to unseat President Tinubu in 2027. They have promised to serve for one tenure, but Nigerians remain sceptical about this promise not because of them keeping to it but how feasible it is to make any meaningful change in four years.
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