Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has called for a constitutional amendment to adopt a single five-year term for Nigeria’s president, eliminating the possibility of re-election.
Obi made the recommendation on Friday during a courtesy visit to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. He argued that the current four-year renewable tenure should be replaced with a fixed five-year term, similar to the system in South Korea.
His proposal comes amid broader discussions on governance reforms in Nigeria, as the country seeks to strengthen democracy and attract foreign investment.
“I’ve said it and I want to say it again in this government house that if I have the opportunity, we should stop having a second tenure for president.
“It should be five years straight, so that people can come in knowingly they have a job to do.
“What people do now is to be president for one year and use the rest of the years thinking about their next tenure. We must stop it, let’s face the real job, do your own and go,” he suggested.
The 2027 presidential hopeful insisted that if elected as Nigerian president in 2027, he would only serve for one term, promising that he won’t spend a day longer than four years in office.
He added that if given the opportunity to serve Nigeria, he would ensure that every political party functions properly.
Obi said he would ensure that political parties were bigger than the elected officials.
“I want the party to be bigger than the president and the governors so that we can have orderliness,” he said.
Responding, the Bauchi state governor called on Obi to come back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the party as where he belongs.
“We want you to come back to PDP. Please come back because that is where you belong.
“We want you to be in PDP. There are plans, desires, and strategies,” he said.
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