The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has confirmed that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, signed a written agreement committing Obi to serve only a single four-year term if elected Nigeria’s president in the 2027 general election.
Kwankwaso made the disclosure during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, saying the agreement was designed to promote political balance and ensure that power returns to Northern Nigeria after a four-year presidency by a southern candidate.
According to the former Kano State governor, the arrangement was not merely a verbal understanding but a documented commitment entered into by both the party and the two principal candidates.
“I personally believe him. Based on what I know about him, I don’t think he will change his mind when the time comes. We are all gentlemen, and we have agreed to put it on paper,” Kwankwaso said when asked whether Obi’s one-term pledge was binding.
He explained that two separate agreements were executed—one at the party level and another signed personally between himself and Obi.
“We have done one for the party, and we have done another one between the two of us,” he stated.
Power Rotation at the Centre of Agreement
Kwankwaso said the pact reflects the party’s commitment to Nigeria’s long-standing principle of power rotation between the North and the South, a political arrangement that has often been promoted by major parties as a means of fostering national cohesion and inclusiveness.
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According to him, both leaders agreed that a southern presidency should last for only one term, after which the office should return to the North.
“The agreement is that after four years, we will continue to work together as a party, as friends and brothers, so that after our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North,” he explained.
He added that the understanding goes beyond electoral collaboration, describing it as a long-term political partnership built on mutual trust and shared objectives.
Why I Accepted to Be Running Mate — Kwankwaso
Addressing questions about his decision to accept the vice-presidential nomination after previously seeking the presidency, Kwankwaso said the arrangement was informed by the need to promote fairness, equity and national balance.
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He maintained that both he and Obi reached a consensus that allowing the South to produce the president for one term before returning power to the North would strengthen national unity and reinforce the party’s commitment to inclusive governance.
According to him, the decision was made after careful consultations and reflects what the party considers to be a balanced political formula capable of attracting support across the country.
On speculation that the one-term arrangement could position him for a presidential bid in 2031, Kwankwaso declined to dwell on future political ambitions, insisting that the party’s immediate priority is securing victory in the 2027 presidential election.
He said while the agreement provides a framework for political succession beyond 2031, the current focus remains on presenting a united front and convincing Nigerians to support the NDC’s agenda for governance.
Kwankwaso’s disclosure is expected to generate fresh debate over the role of written political agreements in Nigeria’s democratic process, particularly those relating to zoning and power rotation.
Although power-sharing arrangements have featured prominently in the country’s political history, they are largely political understandings rather than constitutional requirements.
The revelation also places renewed attention on the NDC’s electoral strategy as political parties continue to build alliances ahead of the 2027 general election.
Neither Peter Obi nor the Nigeria Democratic Congress had issued a separate statement on the reported agreement at the time of filing this report.