By Safiyat Muhammed – The Bureau News
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has cautioned ex-Anambra governor Peter Obi and former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi against pledging to serve only one term if elected president, describing such promises as unrealistic and deceptive.
Speaking on Politics Today aired on Channels Television on Sunday, El-Rufai argued that Nigerians have become more politically discerning and would not be misled by what he termed “false commitments” from presidential aspirants.
“I want them to stop making this kind of commitment. Nobody believes them. Things change once they get in,” El-Rufai said. “Such a promise is even unfair. Four years is not enough to make meaningful change in government, and they both know this because they’ve governed before.”
Zoning and Party Strategy
El-Rufai, who played a critical role in rallying northern APC governors to support a southern presidency during the 2023 elections, reiterated that zoning is a political strategy, not a sentimental arrangement.
“In 2023, I felt very strongly that because of our understanding, power must go to the South. PDP could zone theirs anywhere they wanted, but for us in the APC, it was a strategy. That’s what zoning is,” he explained.
Now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), El-Rufai admitted that his new political platform is still weak structurally but working on building its foundation. He said zoning and other strategic decisions would only be made once the party stabilizes.
Continuity in Governance
The former governor emphasized that real reform in governance requires continuity, noting that restricting oneself to a single term undermines sustainable policy execution.
“It is wrong for aspirants to constitutionally give up the right to a second term. Real reform requires more than four years. I appeal to everyone to stop making these commitments of only one term. Let’s wait for our party to settle and decide the best way to win,” he added.
