₦airaland Forum

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has cautioned former Anambra governor, Peter Obi, and ex-Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi, against promising to serve only one term if elected president, describing such pledges as deceitful and unrealistic.

Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television on Sunday, El-Rufai said Nigerians have grown wiser and would not be swayed by what he termed “false commitments” from politicians seeking power.

“I want them to stop making this kind of commitment. Nobody believes them. Things change once they get in,” he said. “Such a promise is even unfair. Four years is not enough to make meaningful change in government, and they both know this because they’ve governed before.”

El-Rufai, who played a prominent role in mobilizing northern APC governors to back southern presidency in 2023, recalled that zoning has always been a political strategy to enhance a party’s chances of winning elections, not a matter of sentiment.

“In 2023, I felt very strongly that because of our understanding, power must go to the South. PDP could zone theirs anywhere they wanted, but for us in the APC, it was a strategy. That’s what zoning is,” he explained.

On his current political affiliation, the former governor admitted that his new platform, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is still structurally weak and in the process of building its foundation. According to him, decisions on zoning or presidential strategy would only be taken once the party stabilizes.

El-Rufai stressed that it was wrong for aspirants to constitutionally give up the right to a second term, noting that real reform in governance requires continuity beyond a four-year cycle.

“I appeal to everyone to stop making these commitments of only one term. Let’s wait for our party to settle and decide the best way to win,” he said.

“On the question of people coming out to say they will do one term, I don’t think anyone believes them, I don’t think it is right. You should not constitutionally give up what is yours, and frankly as someone that has been governor for eight years, and Amaechi and Peter Obi have both been governors, they knew the time it takes to make meaningful changes in government. Four years is not enough so I want to appeal to everyone to stop making this commitment of I will do four years because nobody believes you”


Above is the exact transcribe of what El-Rufai said.

Did he just say nobody believes Obi and Amaechi😳😳🤣😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/F6vP0bhuor

— President Otunba GCFRN 🇳🇬 (@de_generalnoni) August 31, 2025

“On the question of people coming out to say they will do one term, I don’t think anyone believes them, I don’t think it is right. You should not constitutionally give up what is yours, and frankly as someone that has been governor for eight years, and Amaechi and Peter Obi have both been governors, they knew the time it takes to make meaningful changes in government. Four years is not enough so I want to appeal to everyone to stop making this commitment of I will do four years because nobody believes you”

agentNija:
Obi's word is sacrosanct. If he tells you one term then it is one term.

jmoore:
The main message from the interview is that Tinubu will come 3rd.

helinues:
True. Same way he came third from una camp in the last election even though you people never released the figure

agentNija:
Obi's word is sacrosanct. If he tells you one term then it is one term.

Tochi3:


..whether one term or nöt..tilumbu is OTP..therebis no hiding place for a man that forged certificates to come destroy the whole country..economically, politically, socially, religiously & spiritally..

..it is only through lies, deceit & propaganda they know how best to do..

..tilumbu OTP..

..insha allah

seunmsg:
Sacrosanct to Obi and his supporters alone. However, the northern elements in the coalition, the same people you’re relying on to deliver the northern votes are simply saying they don’t believe the “I will do only one term” nonsense. In simple term, we want a northerner who will do 8 years to fly the party ticket and the best we can give Obi is vice president.

Tochi3:


..whether one term or nöt..tilumbu is OTP..therebis no hiding place for a man that forged certificates to come destroy the whole country..economically, politically, socially, religiously & spiritally..

..it is only through lies, deceit & propaganda they know how best to do..

..tilumbu OTP..

..insha allah

jmoore:
The main message from the interview is that Tinubu will come 3rd.

seunmsg:
You are free to console yourself with whatever suits you. It still doesn’t change the fact that the northern elements in ADC are laughing at Peter Obi with his one term promise. They have seen through his desperation and lies and they are simply telling him to his face to stop the joke, nobody is buying it. Not even his own coalition partners

seunmsg:
You are free to console yourself with whatever suits you. It still doesn’t change the fact that the northern elements in ADC are laughing at Peter Obi with his one term promise. They have seen through his desperation and lies and they are simply telling him to his face to stop the joke, nobody is buying it. Not even his own coalition partners

jmoore:
They should give Rotimi Amaechi the vice presidential ticket.

seunmsg:
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has cautioned former Anambra governor, Peter Obi, and ex-Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi, against promising to serve only one term if elected president, describing such pledges as deceitful and unrealistic.

Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television on Sunday, El-Rufai said Nigerians have grown wiser and would not be swayed by what he termed “false commitments” from politicians seeking power.

“I want them to stop making this kind of commitment. Nobody believes them. Things change once they get in,” he said. “Such a promise is even unfair. Four years is not enough to make meaningful change in government, and they both know this because they’ve governed before.”

El-Rufai, who played a prominent role in mobilizing northern APC governors to back southern presidency in 2023, recalled that zoning has always been a political strategy to enhance a party’s chances of winning elections, not a matter of sentiment.

“In 2023, I felt very strongly that because of our understanding, power must go to the South. PDP could zone theirs anywhere they wanted, but for us in the APC, it was a strategy. That’s what zoning is,” he explained.

On his current political affiliation, the former governor admitted that his new platform, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is still structurally weak and in the process of building its foundation. According to him, decisions on zoning or presidential strategy would only be taken once the party stabilizes.

El-Rufai stressed that it was wrong for aspirants to constitutionally give up the right to a second term, noting that real reform in governance requires continuity beyond a four-year cycle.

“I appeal to everyone to stop making these commitments of only one term. Let’s wait for our party to settle and decide the best way to win,” he said.

https://www.naijanexusnews.com/2025/08/31/you-cant-deceive-nigerians-with-one-term-promise-el-rufai-tells-obi-ameachi/



“On the question of people coming out to say they will do one term, I don’t think anyone believes them, I don’t think it is right. You should not constitutionally give up what is yours, and frankly as someone that has been governor for eight years, and Amaechi and Peter Obi have both been governors, they knew the time it takes to make meaningful changes in government. Four years is not enough so I want to appeal to everyone to stop making this commitment of I will do four years because nobody believes you”


Above is the exact transcribe of what El-Rufai said.

Did he just say nobody believes Obi and Amaechi😳😳🤣😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/F6vP0bhuor

— President Otunba GCFRN 🇳🇬 (@de_generalnoni) August 31, 2025

Cc: Mynd44 nlfpmod fergie001

seunmsg:
Naaa, we are giving it to Peter Obi the desperate presidential wannabe. He had played himself into a cul de sac and there is no way out. He must serve as Atiku’s spare tyre for eight years after which he will be discarded. You see that OTP, e no go smell am.

seunmsg:
Sacrosanct to Obi and his supporters alone. However, the northern elements in the coalition, the same people you’re relying on to deliver the northern votes are simply saying they don’t believe the “I will do only one term” nonsense. In simple term, we want a northerner who will do 8 years to fly the party ticket and the best we can give Obi is vice president.

helinues:
True. Same way he came third from una camp in the last election even though you people never released the figure

helinues:
There is no way a one term narration would sell in 2027.

So if one term is not possible, Northerners would rather queue behind president Tinubu in 2027 while waiting for their turn from 2031

seunmsg:
Sacrosanct to Obi and his supporters alone. However, the northern elements in the coalition, the same people you’re relying on to deliver the northern votes are simply saying they don’t believe the “I will do only one term” nonsense. In simple term, we want a northerner who will do 8 years to fly the party ticket and the best we can give Obi is vice president.

DMerciful:
Northerners will not queue behind Tinubu because they know a second term for Tinubu will be the end of their political career.

They've already committed themselves to treat Tinubu's removal with levity.

I have confirmation that Obi will be on the ballot meaning SS and SE and Christian belt will go to Obi at a minimum

jmoore:
The main message from the interview is that Tinubu will come 3rd.