The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has defended its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his pledge to serve only one term if elected in 2027, describing the commitment as a performance guarantee rather than a political gamble.

The party was reacting to comments by former Imo State governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, who described Obi as a “fantastic gentleman” but questioned the viability of his proposed single-term presidency during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

In a statement issued by the Director-General of the NDC National Campaign Council, Mallam Ibrahim Hussain Abdulkarim, the party said the pledge was constitutionally permissible and demonstrated Obi’s willingness to prioritise national development over personal political ambition.

The NDC cited Section 135(2) of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that although the provision allows a president to seek re-election after the initial four-year tenure, it does not make a second term compulsory.

“Section 135(2) of the 1999 Constitution provides that a President shall leave office after four years and may seek a further four years. In law, ‘may’ is permissive, not mandatory. A single term is therefore constitutional. It is not a gamble,” the party said.

The party also argued that Nigeria’s experience under an eight-year presidential administration between 2015 and 2023 showed that a longer tenure did not automatically translate into better governance.

It cited inflation, naira depreciation, rising public debt, poverty and insecurity as examples of challenges that persisted despite the length of time leaders spent in office.

According to the NDC, Obi’s proposal is intended to shift attention from political calculations and second-term ambitions to measurable achievements within four years.

“Peter Obi’s offer is a performance bond, not a gamble. He has pledged to serve one term, to be judged strictly by results, and to hand over power in 2031 in recognition that it is the turn of the North. This is sacrifice for national stability,” the statement added.

Abdulkarim maintained that Nigeria’s governance challenges stemmed not from insufficient time in office but from leaders’ failure to utilise their opportunities to deliver meaningful development.

“Leadership is measured by impact, not duration. Nigeria’s problem has never been insufficient time. It has been the repeated failure to use time well. Mr Obi proposes to reverse that culture: one term dedicated entirely to delivery,” he said.

The party urged Nigerians to assess the pledge on its merits, arguing that a candidate voluntarily limiting his tenure despite being constitutionally eligible for re-election demonstrated a commitment to accountability.

“When a man entitled to eight years voluntarily chooses four and invites the nation to judge him by results, he is not gambling. He is sacrificing,” it said.

The NDC described Obi’s proposed single-term presidency as a time-bound commitment to national recovery, responsible leadership and political stability.

“This is not a gamble. It is a rescue mission with a deadline,” the party declared.