The one-term agreement the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has with his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, if Obi is elected president in 2027, has drawn sharp reactions from northern groups and lawyers.

Obi has pledged to serve a single four-year term in accordance with the country’s power-rotation arrangement between the North and the South, since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in office.

Kwankwaso had confirmed that the party’s presidential candidate, Obi, signed a written agreement to serve only a single four-year term if elected in 2027.

Kwankwaso disclosed this during a Monday interview on Channels Television, stating that the agreement was designed to allow power to return to the North after one tenure, in line with the party’s power-sharing arrangement.

The former Kano State governor said he had no reason to doubt Obi’s willingness to honour the agreement.

“Oh yes, I personally believe him. I don’t think, based on what I now know about him, that he will change his mind when the time comes. We are all gentlemen,” Kwankwaso had said.

However, while the apex northern socio-cultural organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has criticised the idea, describing it as illegal and a sign of desperation, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has welcomed it, saying it is in line with power rotation.

On their part, senior lawyers have described the alleged one-term agreement by the NDC presidential candidate as unconstitutional and not binding.

One-term Pact Illegal, Not Enough to Win North’s Support – ACF

The ACF specifically said such an agreement is not enough reason for the presidential candidate to be supported by the region.

It also stated that former Kano State governor Kwankwaso was not qualified to enter into such an agreement with former Anambra State governor Obi on behalf of anyone in the country.

Rather, the ACF said such an agreement is sufficient reason for both Obi and his running mate, Kwankwaso, to be rejected at the polls in 2027.

The ACF said signing a one-term agreement shows desperation for power and that, according to it, is enough reason for Nigerians to reject him and his running mate.

The ACF, while describing the one-term agreement as unproductive, said nobody sent Obi or Kwankwaso to negotiate a decision on the presidency between the North and the South.

In an interview with our correspondent  Sunday, ACF national publicity secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad Baba, described the arrangement by the NDC presidential candidate as unconstitutional and illegal, adding that no one would stop Obi from seeking a second term if he wins the presidency and performs credibly well.

The ACF spokesperson said, “I pointed out that this kind of arrangement, honestly, is unproductive and doesn’t make much sense. First of all, rotation of leadership from North to South is not a constitutional requirement; it’s an internal party affair and cannot be imposed on the nation by absolutely anybody.

“Number two, because it is unconstitutional and illegal, it is, in fact, counterproductive. Suppose, for example, Peter Obi wins the election by chance and performs very well; would it be reasonable to say that after four years, it has to return to someone whose hands we don’t yet know?

“It just doesn’t make sense. Nigerian politicians should not be behaving as if all they want is to attain a position of leadership, and that’s all. This agreement is not about service. It is about personal ambitions.

“Number three, nobody, to the best of my knowledge, has sent Peter Obi or anybody to negotiate a decision on the presidency between the North and the South. They are talking for themselves.

“They should stop talking about doing it for southerners or, later on, for northerners. No, it’s for their personal ambition. In my opinion, and in our opinion, the fact that they could sign such an agreement is an even better reason for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to be rejected because, in my personal opinion, they don’t wish this country well.”

According to Prof. Baba, what Nigeria needs now is “a leader who will be objective, dedicated to equity and service”, and not one who will be waiting to receive power after four years.

Deal In Order, Power Should Return To Middle Belt In 2031 – MBF

On its part, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has welcomed the one-term promise by the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, if he wins the 2027 polls.

Speaking with one of our correspondents in Kaduna on the telephone, MBF spokesman, Mr Luka Binniyat, said the forum has no problem with that, as long as it is in preparation for the Middle Belt to take over the presidency in 2031.

The MBF said, “By 2031, power should return to the North, to the Middle Belt. We all agreed in 2023 that power should be retained in the South up to 2031. Now, if Peter Obi signed that agreement, it is in order because the North will take over power.

“And when we say the North this time, we are talking about the Middle Belt; that power will return to the Middle Belt in 2031. And we have that agreement with all the major socio-cultural organisations of the South. So, if Peter Obi will be doing that, and it is true, it means that the Middle Belt is getting more assurance that power will return to it.”

The forum contended that the Muslim North has had a good share of the presidency since 1999 and that, come 2031, it should be the Middle Belt’s turn.

It said a Christian candidate from the Middle Belt should secure the presidential ticket of all the political parties.

“Just as we encouraged them to zone their presidential ticket to the South, that is what we see most of them doing. So, if Peter Obi will be doing that, we don’t have a problem with it, as long as it is in preparation for the Middle Belt to take over the presidency in 2031,” the MBF concluded.

Pact Not Binding – Lawyers

Meanwhile, lawyers have said the agreement by Obi and his Vice, Kwankwaso, for Obi to serve one term if elected president in 2027 does not have the force of law and therefore cannot be binding.

Some lawyers who spoke to our correspondent  Sunday said such an agreement does not exist in the nation’s laws and is, at best, a gentleman’s agreement.

According to Abdul Balogun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, such an agreement can be reneged on.

“What the 1999 Constitution recognises is a four-year, two-term presidency. The law of the country does not back any other agreement,” he said.

Another lawyer, Hillary Omoh, said that for any agreement to be binding, it must have the force of law.

He said that as long as there is no legal backing for the agreement, any party can renege on it and nothing can be done about it.

“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives everyone the right to aspire to the position of president.

“Also, the 1999 Constitution gives room for re-election; however, one can decide to do just one term and decide not to run for a second term in office,” she said.

Another lawyer, James Ekwe, said that if anyone enters into such an agreement, it is left to that person to be honourable and keep it.

“If anyone agrees to sign such an agreement, I doubt that it will be honoured because the luxury political office holders enjoy in this part of the world is so much.

“Even if the candidate was honest and determined at the point of signing such an agreement, the luxury he will enjoy after assuming office can make him rethink,” he said.