Onanuga questions Peter Obi’s one-term pledge, cites past party defections

Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has cast doubt on the credibility of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi over his pledge to serve only one term if elected president.

In a statement posted on his verified X handle, Onanuga argued that Obi’s political history raises concerns about the reliability of his promises.

The presidential aide referenced Obi’s past affiliation with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), alleging that the former Anambra State governor once vowed unwavering loyalty to the party before later departing from it.

“If you believe Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term as president, you’ll believe anything,” Onanuga wrote.

He further claimed that while in APGA, Obi publicly committed himself to the party and pledged allegiance to its leadership, including a vow never to abandon the platform that facilitated his emergence as governor.

“By his own actions, Peter Obi has shown that his word cannot be trusted. His promises are as fleeting as his political allegiances,” Onanuga stated.

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The remarks come days after Obi formally defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who also left the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Both politicians are expected to run on a joint presidential ticket under the NDC platform, with Kwankwaso positioned as Obi’s running mate.

At its National Convention held in Abuja on May 9, the NDC announced that its 2027 presidential ticket would be zoned to the South for a single term, after which power would return to the North in 2031. Party officials described the zoning arrangement as a strategic move aimed at fostering national balance and building trust across regions.

Observers say the zoning decision is widely interpreted as part of efforts to reassure northern stakeholders that Obi’s single-term pledge would be honoured if he wins the presidency.

However, Onanuga’s comments suggest that the presidency views the pledge with skepticism, pointing to Obi’s history of political realignments across different platforms over the years.

As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the next general election cycle, the debate over trust, party loyalty, and power rotation is expected to remain central to national discourse.