In an interview on Arise TV, Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent lawyer and former spokesperson for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, shed light on the implications of presidential term agreements. Referring to Peter Obi’s commitment to serve a single term if elected in 2027, Okonkwo emphasized the principle of equity in political representation.
Okonkwo argued that agreeing to a four-year term sets a precedent that applies equally to candidates from both northern and southern Nigeria. This arrangement, he suggested, fosters a sense of fairness and trust among voters, ensuring that no region feels marginalized. Okonkwo also proposed the idea of a transitional government within opposition parties, allowing candidates to pledge a single term to enhance public confidence and prevent perceptions of injustice across regional lines.
In his words, “By agreeing to do one term, you are agreeing to four years. You have also acknowledged that if there is any other agreement stating you will also serve four years, then both of you are at the same level of equity, ensuring there would be no injustice in that regard.
There is nothing wrong with a party, especially an opposition party without an incumbent, stating that in order for Nigerians to trust them, they will implement a transitional government. In this scenario, whoever contests would have to agree to serve one term and not exercise their constitutional right to run again. A party can do this so that, whether they present a candidate from the north or the south, Nigerians from either section will not feel betrayed or perceive injustice against them.
