Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has reaffirmed his commitment to clean and principled politics, stating that he has never participated in any form of electoral malpractice.

In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Obi maintained that his political career has been marked by peaceful conduct and integrity.

“Throughout my political journey, I have never been involved in thuggery, the snatching of ballot boxes, or any form of electoral malpractice,” Obi stated.

“I challenge anyone: conduct your investigations. You will find no stains of rigging or violence associated with my name.”

He added that he has always treated his political opponents fairly, avoiding any form of sabotage or coercion.

“Ask those who have contested against me, none were ever denied their rights, framed, or falsely accused,” he said.

“None was asked to place their advert materials or break the bank to do so. I believe in fair competition, not manufactured victories.”

Obi’s remarks come in response to ongoing public debate around his declaration that he would serve only one term if elected president.

He said the public reaction reveals a deep-rooted skepticism toward the possibility of honest leadership.

“I still find it baffling that my decision to do a term of four years, if given the mandate to rule this country, is generating so much agitation,” Obi wrote.

“By this feeling, we are doubting the fact that a sincere leader can achieve much in 48 months.”

He further addressed claims that he is driven by personal ambition, firmly stating that his desire to lead is rooted in national progress.

“I have never been desperate in the pursuit of power, or anything else, for that matter,” he said.

“What drives me is not personal ambition, but a deep commitment to see Nigeria work. And if the sacrifice required of me is four years of sincere, accountable leadership, so be it.”

Obi argued that even a single-term administration can bring significant reforms, particularly in fighting corruption, upholding the rule of law, and investing in critical sectors.

“In four years, we can confront corruption head-on, redirecting resources to priority areas,” he said.

“For instance, the trillions used to acquire new presidential jets and other unnecessary expenses at this time could have been channelled into education, healthcare, or infrastructure.”

He also stressed the need for governance built on transparency and legal principles.

“Within the same period, we ensure that the rule is sacrosanct and the rule of law is strictly followed. Within the same period, we can conduct free, fair and credible elections,” Obi added.

Concluding his statement, Obi reiterated his belief that leadership should be centered on service, not entitlement.

“Leadership, to me, is not about entitlement. It is about service,” he said.

“If given the mandate, for just one term, I will dedicate every moment to building a Nigeria that works for all.”

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has lifted the suspension of 81 government officials, allowing them to return to their posts.

The officials, including Commissioners, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants and Permanent Secretaries, were earlier suspended on July 28, 2025.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, the affected individuals have been directed to resume their official duties immediately.

A leading figure in the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has cast doubt on Peter Obi’s recent pledge to serve only one term if elected president in 2027, warning Nigerians not to take the former Anambra State governor at his word.

Speaking during an interview on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, Arabambi questioned Obi’s political integrity, using his defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as a key example of broken promises.

“So, we are not going to trust him,” Arabambi said on the programme.

“So, Peter Obi cannot be telling Nigerians, ‘Oh don’t worry, I will do a single term’ when ab initio with his own mouth, he said he would stay in APGA; he is not going to leave,” added the LP’s factional national publicity secretary.

Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election with over six million votes, has in recent weeks reaffirmed his commitment to a single-term presidency, if given the mandate in 2027.

“In my political life, my word is my bond… My vow to serve only one term of four years is a solemn commitment, rooted in my conviction that purposeful, transparent leadership does not require an eternity,” Obi tweeted on Sunday.

However, Arabambi dismissed this statement as unreliable, arguing that Obi benefitted from the youth-led frustration with former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rather than from any strong party structure or ideology.

He also accused Obi of not contributing financially to the Labour Party’s activities during the last election.

“No kobo of Peter Obi entered the party,” Arabambi claimed, asserting that the LP “made” Obi, not the other way around.

Meanwhile, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has spoken out in defense of Obi, reaffirming her belief in his sincerity and vision for the country.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans, Chimamanda emphasized that Obi is not driven by desperation, but by a genuine desire to serve.

“He (Obi) doesn’t need to be president. He wants to be because he cares about Nigeria, but he doesn’t need to be. And that is a very important distinction,” she said.

She contrasted Obi with other politicians whom she described as power-hungry.

“There are people who are desperate to become president, not because they have any good intentions for the country, but because of their egos.”

The award-winning author also praised Obi’s approach to leadership.

“Peter Obi is not a person who expects you to thank him for doing his job as a leader, because to him it’s his job,” she noted.

“There’s a sense, I think, in Peter Obi that he’s accountable to the people. He doesn’t think that somehow he will lord it over people.”