Why Amaechi Says He’ll Serve Only 1 Term As President
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has declared his commitment to Nigeria’s power-sharing arrangement, saying he would serve only one term if elected president in 2027.
Amaechi made this known during an interview on a television programme on Thursday, where he emphasized that his decision was rooted in national interest and the principle of equity between the North and South.
When asked if he would serve a single term should he become the presidential candidate of the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC), Amaechi responded confidently:
“Of course. I told you. You know that I speak my mind. If I won’t do more than four years, I would say that. If I were to do more than four years, I would say I would do more than four.”
Nigeria operates an unwritten power-sharing agreement that rotates the presidency between the North and South. President Bola Tinubu, from the South-West, assumed office in 2023 following the two-term tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari from the North-West.
As political momentum builds toward the 2027 elections, zoning and regional representation have become central to public discourse. The ADC, a coalition of influential political figures, has yet to officially announce its zoning formula.
However, when questioned about the party’s stance on zoning and the possibility of backing a southerner for a single four-year term, Amaechi replied:
“Of course, of course. Let me tell you why. For now, the way Nigeria is, you must keep to that agreement—unwritten agreement—that says South eight years, North eight years.”
Amaechi also recounted his political stance in 2015 when he opposed the then-ruling PDP over a similar issue of power rotation.
“I led the fight against the PDP government. Why? Because there was an agreement that the government at that time would spend four years. But after four years, the government reneged on it, and I said no, that would be unfair. That will be instability at its peak because the North will react.
“So, the best thing to do is what? It is to support a northern candidate to continue the balance of power. Just like I will be among those saying to the North that the South must be allowed to complete its tenure. If the South is not allowed to complete its tenure, then I have made a mistake in supporting it.”
Amaechi’s comments are likely to spark further debate about zoning, equity, and political fairness as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
