Peter Obi, Amaechi Under Fire: El-Rufai Warns Against Short-Term Presidency

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticized the single-term proposal put forward by 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, if either is elected president in 2027.

Peter Obi and Amaechi, who are part of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027, have declared their intentions to contest for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket. Both have pledged that, if elected, they would serve only a single term to allow for the emergence of a Northern president in 2031.

However, El-Rufai, who recently stated he has no political ambitions, dismissed their proposal during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.

He noted that both Amaechi and Obi, as former governors, are well aware that meaningful change cannot be achieved within just four years.

El-Rufai stated, “Amaechi and Peter Obi are former governors, and they know that at least you need eight years to make meaningful changes.”

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory also urged ADC members to temporarily set aside their presidential and other political ambitions to focus on strengthening the party’s structure.