Peter Obi Joins Atiku in Push for Single-Term Presidency in Nigeria
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has backed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s call for a single tenure for Nigerian presidents.
Speaking in Bauchi State on Friday during a courtesy visit to Governor Bala Mohammed, Obi proposed a five-year single term for the presidency.
He argued that the current two-term system often leads to leaders prioritizing re-election campaigns over delivering on their mandates.
“If I have the opportunity, we should stop having a second tenure for president,” Obi stated.
“It should be five years straight, so that people can come in knowing they have a job to do. What people do now is be president for one year and use the rest of the years thinking about their next tenure. We must stop it — do your job and go.”
Obi compared his proposal to South Korea’s presidential system, where leaders serve a single term, focusing solely on governance without the pressure of re-election politics.
Atiku’s Earlier Proposal
Obi’s position mirrors Atiku’s recommendation from October 2024, when the former vice president formally presented a proposal to the National Assembly during the constitutional amendment process.
Atiku suggested:
- A single six-year term for the presidency.
- Rotation of the office between Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, alternating between the North and South.
- His plan included amending Section 130 (1) and Section 135 (2) of the 1999 Constitution to reflect these changes.
