Bayo Onanuga Questions Peter Obi’s One-Term Presidency Promise Ahead of 2027 Race

Fresh political tensions have emerged ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election after Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, openly challenged the credibility of Peter Obi’s pledge to serve only one term if elected president.

Onanuga, in a strongly worded post shared on his X account, argued that Obi’s political history raises doubts about whether Nigerians should trust the promise. The presidential aide accused the former Anambra governor of repeatedly shifting political alliances despite past commitments of loyalty.

“If you believe Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term as president, you’ll believe anything,” Onanuga wrote.

He specifically referenced Obi’s time in the All Progressives Grand Alliance, claiming the former governor once publicly vowed never to leave the party that helped him rise to power in Anambra State.

According to Onanuga, Obi had pledged loyalty to the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, popularly known as Ikemba, before eventually leaving the party. He argued that Obi’s movement across multiple political platforms over the years weakens the credibility of his latest political assurances.

“By his own actions, Peter Obi has shown that his word cannot be trusted. His promises are as fleeting as his political allegiances,” Onanuga added.

The criticism comes days after Obi officially dumped the African Democratic Congress and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Political observers believe the move is part of a wider coalition strategy aimed at building a stronger opposition platform ahead of the next general election. Both politicians are expected to contest on a joint ticket under the NDC banner, with Kwankwaso tipped as Obi’s running mate.

During its national convention in Abuja on May 9, the NDC announced that its 2027 presidential ticket would be zoned to the South for a single term before rotating back to the North in 2031. Analysts say the arrangement appears designed to reassure northern stakeholders that Obi would respect a one-term agreement if elected.

The development has already sparked debate across Nigeria’s political space, with supporters and critics of Obi divided over whether political defections should automatically discredit campaign promises tied to power-sharing arrangements.