According to a report by Punch on Monday, September 1, 2025, The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has strongly cautioned former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, against making campaign promises centered on serving a single term if elected president.
Wike described such commitments as misleading and unrealistic, stressing that no politician can truly determine their tenure before experiencing the realities of governance.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday, Wike aligned himself with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who earlier dismissed one-term pledges as unconvincing.
Wike argued that political dynamics shift once a person attains power, making it difficult to predict future decisions, including whether to contest for re-election.
According to him, if Obi were to eventually assume the presidency, circumstances could easily compel him to seek another term despite earlier promises.
He explained, “Even if you give him the six million votes back, all those who voted for him will continue to vote for him. What happened in 2023 will not be the same.”
Wike noted that political contexts evolve over time, which is why promises made before elections cannot always hold true once governance begins.
The minister also raised concerns about Obi’s political strategy and the uncertainty surrounding his platform ahead of 2027.
He questioned why Obi’s supporters were left in suspense about his next political move.
Wike stated, “They should know the platform. Is it December that he will mention it? Atiku has said he will run in the ADC, Amaechi said ADC, but he has not said where he will run. Why are you keeping your supporters guessing, so he goes where he likes and when we have finished working, he comes back because he’s a saint and there is nobody in PDP.”
Wike further stressed that Obi’s followers were being misled with empty promises, insisting that no president can realistically bind themselves to a single term.
He echoed El-Rufai’s warning, saying, “It’s very clear El-Rufai said stop saying that you will run for four years, it’s not correct. I don’t want people to be deceived, circumstances will change. How do you sit down and a president tells you, ‘I will run for four years,’ then you believe him?”
The minister expressed disbelief at the idea that Nigerians should trust such assurances, emphasizing that governance is unpredictable.
He maintained, “How can you say that? That is not correct. Don’t tell Nigerians such story; when you get there you will now find out if you will run for a second or third term. Some people tried to run for a third term.”
By pointing to historical examples of leaders attempting to extend their stay in office, Wike underscored his argument that political promises are often compromised by evolving circumstances.
He insisted that Nigerians should not be swayed by one-term pledges, as they are little more than rhetorical devices meant to capture public sympathy.
Ultimately, Wike’s remarks suggest that political leaders, including Peter Obi, should refrain from unrealistic promises and instead focus on policies that reflect practical governance, since the decision to serve one or more terms will always depend on circumstances beyond campaign declarations.
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