LAGOS APC TO PETER OBI: YOUR CALL FOR A SINGLE 5-YEAR PRESIDENTIAL TERM IS A MISGUIDED DISTRACTION FROM YOUR OWN POLITICAL FAILURES
The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken note of the recent comments made by Mr. Peter Obi, the perennial presidential hopeful and former governor of Anambra State, who is now advocating for a single, non-renewable five-year term for the Nigerian presidency.
Let it be clearly stated: Mr. Obi’s proposal is not only constitutionally suspect and politically unserious—it is a dangerous distraction from the real conversations that Nigerians should be having about leadership, accountability, and development.
Rather than addressing his glaring shortcomings in public service and his repeated failures at the national level, Mr. Obi has once again chosen to peddle half-baked ideas wrapped in populist rhetoric. Nigerians must not be deceived. A change in the duration of presidential terms will not magically fix the deep-seated issues of weak institutions, lack of policy continuity, or the opportunism that defines many political actors—including Mr. Obi himself.
OBI’S RECORD: A CASE STUDY IN HYPOCRISY
It is particularly ironic that this proposal comes from someone whose own tenure as Governor of Anambra State was mired in controversy, legal gymnastics, and underwhelming achievements. During his time in office, Mr. Obi did not exhibit any revolutionary ideas or implement systemic reforms that justify his newfound role as a self-appointed constitutional philosopher.
If Mr. Obi is genuinely concerned about governance reform, let him begin by explaining his lackluster record and the absence of lasting institutional changes in Anambra. His party, the Labour Party, has demonstrated no capacity for internal democracy, policy depth, or national cohesion—yet he presumes to lecture the nation on constitutional restructuring?
A POPULIST PROPOSAL MASKING A POLITICAL AGENDA
The idea of a single, five-year presidential term is not new, and it has been debated and rejected in the past—for good reason. Such a system weakens democratic accountability and denies the electorate the power to reward or punish leaders based on performance. It incentivizes short-termism and can create lame-duck presidents with no political stake in long-term national development.
The Nigerian Constitution already provides the people with the ultimate power to choose who governs them—and for how long. Mr. Obi’s call, therefore, is not a reformist proposal, but a veiled attempt to rewrite the rules of democracy to suit his own political ambitions. Having failed to win the presidency, he now seeks to alter the goalposts, hoping that structural change will succeed where his charisma and policies have failed.
THE APC POSITION: STRONGER INSTITUTIONS, NOT CHEAP SLOGANS
The APC believes in strengthening democratic institutions, upholding the will of the people, and promoting leadership that is visionary, results-driven, and accountable to the electorate. Our party does not support shortcuts or gimmicks in the name of reform.
If Mr. Obi is interested in genuine national progress, he should join the conversation on electoral reform, judicial independence, economic development, and security sector transformation—issues that require depth, not soundbites.
Until then, we advise Mr. Obi to focus on reorganizing his fractured party, addressing internal leadership crises, and perhaps, finally providing Nigerians with a coherent policy agenda—something he conspicuously lacked throughout his 2023 and 2027 presidential campaigns.
Enough of political theatrics. Nigeria needs serious minds, not perennial contestants masquerading as visionaries.
Mogaji (Hon) Seye Oladejo
Lagos APC Spokesman.
08/08/25.
