APC chieftain Dr. George Agbakahi has criticised Peter Obi’s pledge to serve only one term if elected president, arguing that such a commitment weakens the Southeast’s political bargaining power.
Speaking in an interview with News Central TV, Agbakahi reacted to Obi’s reported promise to voluntarily leave office after a single term. He said the position, which he also attributed to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was not in the region’s political interest.
“Voluntarily surrendering, as Peter Obi and Kwankwaso are advocating, makes us feel weakened. Our bargaining power, our bargaining position in the Southeast, is weakened,” Agbakahi said.
He cited Section 137 of the 1999 Constitution, noting that it gives a president the constitutional right to seek a second term.
According to Agbakahi, any presidential candidate from the Southeast should have the same opportunity to seek re-election as previous Nigerian presidents. He argued that accepting a self-imposed one-term limit could place the region at a political disadvantage.:::
