Peter Obi faults Soludo’s criticism of one-term vow, cites Mandela
Stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have weighed the merits of fielding either former President Goodluck Jonathan or former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
The Guardian learned that a strong lobby made up of high-ranking party chieftains has been mandated to convince Jonathan to return, offering him an automatic ticket. This move is said to stem from concerns among entrenched party interests over Mr Peter Obi’s hesitation to fully commit to rejoining the PDP.
Checks by The Guardian revealed that some party chieftains with their sights set on the 2031 presidential election have thrown their weight behind Jonathan, arguing that his eligibility for only one more term, due to the constitutional two-term limit, makes him a safe option for a transitional presidency.
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, who did not want to be named, told The Guardian that despite Obi’s assurances that he would serve only one term if elected, most party leaders believe Jonathan would bring greater stability.
He said: “Let me tell you straight away, serious efforts are being made to pull Jonathan into the race. From the look of things, our northern colleagues believe that it is necessary to get the former president to come in and complete his second term.
“It is not that the Obi option has been ruled out, but developments in the Labour Party and the coalition make it risky to put all our eggs in one basket. We do not want a situation that could leave the party scratching around to field a strong contender.”
Sources revealed that the feasibility of Jonathan’s return was a key part of discussions among party leaders who recently gathered in The Gambia. The meeting also covered strategies for financing the party and the 2027 election campaign.
Last Thursday, Lawal Muazu, Special Assistant to Governor Bala Mohammed, revealed that his principal, alongside Senator Abdul Ningi and Jonathan, was part of a delegation to a summit in The Gambia focusing on bilateral relations and promoting democratic governance.
In a post on his Facebook page, Muazu explained that the visit was also part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the role of African statesmen in conflict resolution, good governance, and electoral support across the continent.
“The delegation engaged with Gambian leaders and stakeholders on matters related to peace building, regional stability, and democratic development,” he added.
It will be recalled that exactly a year ago, the Bauchi State governor had told a group urging him to run for president that the only scenario in which he would not contest was if former President Jonathan agreed to run.
Pledging his full support, the governor, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, said he would back the former president.
“With regard to your call for me to present myself, I know there are good leaders within the PDP, especially my boss, Goodluck Jonathan. I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for leadership of this country unless he decides not to run.
“If we can persuade him to come forward, I will support him with my blood. Out of modesty, he is still not ready. I hope you will meet him and encourage him to run,” the governor said.
On why Obi appears reluctant to return to the PDP, a South-East leader of the Obidient Movement, Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, told The Guardian that no reasonable person would advise the former LP presidential candidate to rejoin the PDP in its current troubled state.
Ezeh stressed that the party could only be considered stable after its elective convention, scheduled for November in Ibadan, Oyo State. He added, “It is risky to swim in a river filled with sharks and crocodiles.”
HOWEVER, a former National Chairman of the PDP, Prof. Jerry Gana, expressed confidence that Peter Obi would defeat all other contenders in the 2027 presidential election if he contests on the PDP platform.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Gana said Obi would secure massive support across the northern states if he returns to the PDP ahead of the next election.
Although Obi has maintained that he remains a member of the Labour Party, he has also been involved in political collaboration with the African Democratic Congress-led coalition.
Gana said, “The PDP is on the ground. I’m a researcher, and I research opinions. In the northern states, Peter Obi, under the PDP, will defeat any candidate because our people are very fair-minded and just.
“We are reaching out to Peter Obi. Because I’m leading a search team and there are many brilliant people. Peter may be good, but we have somebody better. So, we are searching,” he added.
Reflecting on the outcome of the 2023 election, Gana said, “We made a mistake in 2023. If I were Atiku, I would say, ‘Peter, it is now your turn; I would give you a Vice President,’ but he didn’t,” he lamented.
Obi faults Soludo’s criticism of one-term vow, cites Mandela
In a fresh turn in their ongoing political rivalry, Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, and his predecessor, Mr Peter Obi, have clashed over the credibility of politicians’ promises to serve only one term in office.
Speaking at the Anambra South Solidarity rally in Ekwulobia, Governor Soludo warned the public against believing any politician who pledges to serve for just one term, describing such a promise as deceptive and manipulative.
He maintained that only politicians attempting to mislead the electorate would make such claims, insisting that such individuals “should have their heads examined at a mental hospital”. He also noted that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for two terms for governors and presidents.
While not naming names directly, Soludo’s remarks appeared to reference recent promises by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, who vowed to serve one term to preserve zoning, as well as Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, who has repeatedly affirmed his one-term pledge.
Responding in a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter), Obi, who served as Anambra governor from 2006 to 2013, reaffirmed the sincerity of his one-term vow and cited international figures to support his position.
“Another iconic figure, John F. Kennedy, did not even complete a full term, yet his vision and ideals continue to inspire generations. In Africa, Nelson Mandela, revered globally as a symbol of justice and reconciliation, chose to serve only one term as President of South Africa, despite immense public pressure to stay longer.
“His decision was a deliberate act of leadership, a statement that power must serve the people, not the self. Indeed, history shows that the longer many African leaders remain in power, the more likely they are to be corrupted by it. Longevity in office is not a mark of success; rather, it is purposeful, accountable service – however brief – that defines true statesmanship.
“It is within this context that I reiterate my vow: I will serve only one term of four years if elected President. And that vow is sacrosanct,” Obi stated.
Lamenting what he called “the decay in our society, (which) has made trust one of the scarcest and most sceptically viewed commodities,” Obi said those questioning his credibility were projecting their own standards.
“But they forget, or perhaps choose to ignore, that Peter Obi is not cut from that cloth. I have a verifiable track record that speaks louder than speculation. If making such a promise qualifies me for a psychiatric evaluation, then we may as well question the mental fitness of those who framed our Constitution, which clearly stipulates a four-year renewable tenure.
“I maintain without equivocation: if elected, I will not spend a day longer than four years in office. In fact, I believe that service should be impactful, not eternal,” he declared.
The Guardian learnt that the disagreement is the latest reflection of the tense political undercurrents between the two Anambra politicians, both of whom are believed to harbour ambitions of becoming Nigeria’s first president of Igbo extraction. Observers note that Soludo, ahead of the 2031 presidential race, views Obi’s potential presidency as a threat to his long-term political aspirations.
