Politics

Peter Obi’s ‘one-term presidency’ stirs controversy among Northern stakeholders

Published

4 months ago

August 7, 2025

The one-term presidency pledge by the former Labour Party’s presidential candidate and key member of the opposition coalition, Peter Obi has stirred controversy among Northern stakeholders.

Obi has continued to affirm a one-term presidency of four years if elected president in 2027.

Over the weekend, Obi said his push for a one-term presidency remains sacrosanct.

Stressing that his word remains his bond, the former Anambra State governor said: “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.

“I am fully aware that the decay in our society has made trust one of the scarcest and most sceptically viewed commodities. Many Nigerians, understandably, no longer take politicians at their word.

“But even in this climate of cynicism, there are still a few whose actions have matched their words – whose integrity is built on verifiable precedent.”

Politicians break rules, Nigerians should interrogate candidates more – Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

Commenting on Obi’s affirmation, former Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said though politicians are known for breaking the rules, stressing that anything is possible.

Baba-Ahmed charged Nigerians to be more critical and make demands from their candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking with Ekwutosblog, he said: “I have no idea because there are so many permutations and I think politicians are breaking the rules but right now, as we speak, anything is possible in this country.

“I hope that as we get closer to the elections, Nigerians will interrogate every candidate so that they will be specific in terms of what they want to do about the security of the country, about the high cost of living in terms of the collapse of the independence of education and healthcare.

“I hope Nigerians will press every candidate irrespective of the party, we need to pin our candidates down and ask for specific promises.”

Nigerians should be careful who they elect president, govs in 2027

The former presidential aide said Nigerians should be careful in picking their president and State governors in 2027.

He insisted that Nigeria needs good people with the political will to fight for the good of the country.

Baba-Ahmed said: “I can’t tell you what they would do when they become President but my view is that Nigerians should be very careful about who they elect as president and governors in 2027, it’s very important because we need good people, honest people, people who have the political will to fight, protect Nigerians, and protect the assets of Nigerians.

“Yes, four years is enough. If you come with a set of ideas that are realistic and relevant to the circumstances under which you govern, you pick a good team to work with you, and you pick a good team to work with you, and you avoid the temptation to seek for power rather than the capacity to govern, yes four years is very good.”

Four years enough to turn Nigeria around

Baba-Ahmed also affirmed that four years is enough for a president with the right ideas to turn the tide around in Nigeria.

He said: “It wasn’t by accident that those who drafted the constitution said you have four years then you can come back for another four years.

“Four years is good enough and if you are good enough to seek another mandate, we will measure you on the basis of your first four years, so I don’t have a problem with four years.”

North can’t trust Peter Obi to be president for just one term – Ex- Arewa Forum Sec Gen, Sani

On his part, a former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Anthony Sani, said the North can’t trust Obi to keep to his words of one-term presidency.

Sani said Obi’s pledge of one-term presidency is not based on performance but informed by expedience.

Speaking with Ekwutosblog, he said Obi reserved the right to run for two-terms as allowed by the Nigerian constitution.

He said: “I would say the political arithmetic is simple. Peter Obi’s pledge to do only one term of four years from 2027 to 2031 is informed more by his desire to seek accommodation by the politics of zoning which makes it mandatory for the presidency to leave the South in 2031 to the North.

“President Bola Tinubu is the only southerner who has only one term of four years (2027-2031) to go. Any other aspirant is constitutionally allowed to do a maximum of two terms of four years each.

“Naturally, Northerners would prefer President Bola Tinubu to Peter Obi due to the term limits for the two of them: Bola Tinubu has only one term left while Peter Obi can do two terms.

“That is what has compelled Peter Obi to pledge he would do one term from 2027 to 2031.The pledge is not based on performance but informed by expedience.

“And given the nature of politics which is about group goals, group interest, group cohesion,group coherence and even group conspiracy, the decision to recontest after one term would not be taken by Peter Obi alone.

“His group will have a say. As a result, northerners may not trust that Peter Obi will leave office after one term.”

Politics

BREAKING: Seven APC Governorship Aspirants In Osun Step Down After Meeting With Tinubu (List)

Published

10 hours ago

December 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

At least seven Osun State governorship aspirants from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have withdrawn from the race following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday.

They have all agreed to support Bola Oyebamiji as the consensus governorship candidate in the forthcoming primary.

The meeting, called by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, was boycotted by one of the aspirants, Iyiola Omisore.

Omisore had earlier described his disqualification from the primary as a joke.

The aspirants who stepped down include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke, Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, and Mulikat Abiola Jimoh.

Politics

Nigeria First Lady, Remi Tinubu Finally Speaks On Drama With Gov Adeleke

Published

10 hours ago

December 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has addressed the controversy sparked by her comments to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke during the 10th coronation anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

The incident, which sparked public debate, occurred on Sunday at the Ile-Ife palace, where Mrs Tinubu was conferred with the traditional title of Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua.

While Governor Adeleke was giving his goodwill message and offering tributes to the monarch and the First Lady, Mrs Tinubu interrupted the governor with a firm directive.

“Enough with the music, or I’ll switch off the microphone,” she said, instructing the governor to “conclude in five minutes.”

The remark, delivered on stage in full view of dignitaries, was met with mixed reactions online, with critics accusing the First Lady of disrespect.

In her response posted on her verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Mrs Tinubu shared a photo of herself with Governor Adeleke from the event, dismissing the outrage as overblown.

“Those entrusted with leadership understand their duties and how to steer the affairs of society. More often, it is the followers and critics who scrutinise every step, amplify minor missteps, and turn them into needless controversy,” she wrote.

Politics

FG arraigns ex-aviation minister Stella Oduah over alleged N2.4b fraud

Published

14 hours ago

December 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on multiple counts bordering on alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust.

According to the charge sheet presented before Justice Hamza Muazu, the defendants were accused of conspiring in January 2014 to obtain a total of N2,469,030,738.90 from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd under allegedly fraudulent claims.

In Count One, the prosecution alleged that Oduah and Odita “agreed amongst yourselves to obtain the whopping sum of Two Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million, Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Naira, Nine Kobo (₦2,469,030,738.90) … by falsely pretending that the said sum represented ‘Cost of Technical Supervision’ and ‘Security Integrated and Logistics Support Services,’ which representation you knew to be false.”

The offence violates Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and is punishable under Section 1(3).

In Count Two, the government alleged that on January 13, 2014, the defendants “obtained the sum of Eight Hundred and Thirty-Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Naira, Nine Kobo (₦839,780,738.90) … by falsely pretending that the said sum represented ‘Cost of Technical Supervision’.”

Count Three alleges that on February 12, 2014, the defendants obtained ₦1,629,250,000 from the ministry through Global Offshore Marine Ltd, claiming it was for “Security Integrated and Logistics Support Services,” a representation the prosecution says was knowingly false.

In Counts Four and Five, the FG accused Oduah, as minister at the time, of dishonestly misappropriating the same sums earmarked for a contract awarded to 1-Sec Security Nigeria Ltd.

The charge states that she “dishonestly misappropriated the sum … by authorizing the transfer of the said sum, which act is a breach of your official trust,” contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.The charges were read to both defendants, who pleaded not guilty.

The defendants’ lawyers, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) for Oduah and Wale Balogun (SAN) for Odita, subsequently moved bail applications.

Ikpeazu urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition, noting that the first defendant has been a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has voluntarily flown in from the United States to honour the court summons, and has been on administrative bail with the EFCC.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who appeared personally for the prosecution, said the government was not opposed to bail.

However, he insisted that the court should set a firm date for the hearing, adding that the defendants were served as far back as November 27, 2025, and are fully aware of the steps they ought to take.

Justice Muazu granted Oduah bail on self-recognition and ordered the defendants to deposit their passports with the court.

Justice Mauzu adjourned the matter to February 12 and 13, 2026, for trial.