By Peter Omopo
September 1, 2025
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed as deceptive the promises by some politicians, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and ex-Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to serve only one term if elected president.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday, Wike backed former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who had earlier argued that it is unrealistic for any presidential hopeful to guarantee a single-term presidency.
Wike maintained that political realities often change once a candidate assumes office, making such pledges unreliable.
“Stop deceiving Nigerians. Circumstances will always change. How can you sit down and a president tells you, ‘I will only serve four years,’ and you believe him? It is not correct,” Wike said.
He further questioned Obi’s political base ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that Nigerians deserve clarity on the party platform he intends to run under.
“This era of social media—where will he get the six million votes? Is it Labour Party? PDP? ADC? Why keep your supporters guessing? Nigerians should know the platform he wants to run under,” Wike stated.
The minister also suggested that Obi’s loyal supporters were being misled, stressing that no president in Nigeria’s democratic history has been able to genuinely commit to serving only one term.
“Even those who once toyed with the idea of a third term prove that political circumstances can push leaders to reconsider their promises,” he added.
Wike’s remarks come amid growing political debates over alignments and strategies ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
