Kwankwaso opens up on Obi’s signed four-year power rotation agreement

Vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, has disclosed that the party’s presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi, signed a formal agreement committing himself to a single four-year term if elected in the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, the former Kano State governor said the arrangement was designed to ensure the presidency returns to the North after one term as part of the party’s power-sharing formula.

Kwankwaso expressed confidence that Obi would stand by the commitment.

“Oh yes, I personally believe him. I don’t think, based on what I now know about him, that he will change his mind when the time comes. We are all gentlemen,” he said.

He also confirmed that the understanding was not merely verbal but documented.

“We have done one for the party, and we have done another one between the two of us,” he said.

According to Kwankwaso, the agreement commits both leaders to work together to secure victory in 2027, after which Obi would complete a single four-year term before power shifts back to the North.

“The agreement is what you said, that for four years, we will work together, team together as a group, party, friends and brothers so that after his term of four years (2027-2031), it comes back to the North. That is the general agreement.”

He explained that his decision to accept the vice-presidential ticket was based on the shared belief that the South should occupy the presidency for only one term before the office rotates again.

“Together we felt that the presidency should go to the South for four years; thereafter it will come back to the North.

“We believe that should be the consensus of everybody in this country so that we can move together as a family, both North and South,” he said.

On whether he would seek the presidency in 2031, Kwankwaso declined to make any firm declaration, saying the immediate priority was the 2027 election while the party continued to develop its long-term strategy.

“We have a short-term plan which we are executing now and, of course, we also have our medium and long-term plans for the country, and that is what we are working on now,” he said.

Obi had earlier, in May, publicly declared that he would not remain in office beyond a single term if elected, describing the pledge as a step towards promoting national stability and unity.

“I want to be a one-term president because of stability. I would not stay a day, with a gun to my head, longer than four years,” Obi had said.

The NDC has repeatedly defended its zoning arrangement, arguing that the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket reflects a balanced approach to regional representation as the country prepares for the 2027 presidential contest.