A former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Peter Ameh, asserts that the sentiment from northern Nigeria indicates that the residents of the region support presidential candidate Peter Obi and his proposal for a single term.
“I hail from northern Nigeria, and as I speak today, it is evident that the prevailing sentiment among our people favors Peter Obi,” Ameh stated during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Thursday.
Ameh, a dedicated supporter of the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, expressed that four years would be sufficient for Obi to effect change in Nigeria.
He noted that the former governor of Anambra, who is vying for the presidency in 2027, is not entering the role to learn and does not possess the ‘it’s-my-turn’ mindset akin to that of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In Ameh’s view, Obi’s integrity, capability, and empathetic leadership have garnered acceptance in northern Nigeria.
Ameh remarked, “The north is a highly diverse and intricate political landscape. Personally, I do not believe that the north is as challenging as some may suggest.
“The northern Nigeria that exists today – including Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and others – has witnessed Obi’s clear performance, even in Plateau. We desire elections that are free, fair, and credible.
“The north possesses a greater political awareness than any other region in this nation. Peter Obi has made a strong statement and a public commitment that ‘I intend to serve only one term to maintain the balance of our unwritten agreement.’
“We ought to seek a leader who embodies compassion, discipline, character, and competence, rather than focusing on ethnicity or religion.
According to the previous chair of IPAC, Tinubu has faced rejection not only from the northern populace but also from the suffering masses across the nation.
“It is evident that the upcoming election will not mirror the previous one. This is why we observe the government’s efforts to make appointments and implement changes. Even the Chief of Staff (Femi Gbajabiamila) is convening meetings with the northern members of the House of Representatives, as they are aware that the public is dissatisfied.
“We intend to contest all the unlawful procedures that were employed to undermine our voters and the election results, and we will establish mechanisms to safeguard the popularity that Peter Obi has achieved and the acceptance he currently enjoys.”
As the 2027 election approaches, Obi has reiterated his commitment to serve a single term of four years, adhering to the unwritten principle of an eight-year power rotation between the southern and northern regions of Nigeria.
Obi aspires to succeed former Lagos governor, Tinubu, as the president of Nigeria in 2027.
In May 2023, Tinubu, hailing from the south, succeeded a northerner, Muhammadu Buhari, who completed an eight-year term. Tinubu is aiming for re-election in 2027; however, numerous opposition members and citizens have criticized his administration for subjecting the populace to unprecedented hardship due to his economic reforms.
