Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has proposed a single five-year term for the office of the Nigerian President, stating that the current system encourages distraction and undermines national development.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on Friday, Obi argued that the idea of a second-term bid has become a hindrance to focused leadership.
“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,” Obi said.
He recommended the adoption of a five-year single term, similar to the system in South Korea, suggesting it would compel elected leaders to prioritise governance over politics.
“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 added.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Obi, a declared hopeful, promised that if elected, he would serve only a single term.
He also pledged to strengthen the political system by ensuring that political parties, not individuals, hold the real power.
“I want the party to be bigger than the president and the governors so that we can have orderliness,” he stated.
In response, Governor Bala Mohammed praised Obi’s stance and appealed for his return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suggesting that the party remains Obi’s true political home.
“We want you to come back to the PDP. Please come back because that is where you belong.
We want you to be in the PDP, there are plans, desires and strategies,” the governor said.
Mohammed also emphasised the importance of unity among opposition parties, saying Nigerian politics must be driven by shared goals rather than ego and personal ambition.
“Politics in Nigeria cannot be done with ego, differences, and personal interest. We must harmonise our interests in the interest of Nigerians,” he concluded.
