Peter Obi Is A Fantastic Gentleman, Clear In The Head, But We Can’t Gamble With Four Years— Okorocha

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has described the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, as a “fantastic gentleman” who is mentally alert, but argued that Nigerians cannot afford to gamble with a four-year presidential term.

Okorocha made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he reacted to the court ruling that disqualified Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Imo West ahead of the 2027 general elections.

During the programme, the former governor also explained why he believes Obi’s proposed single-term presidency could shortchange the South-East, insisting that the region needs to build alliances with other parts of the country to secure the presidency for eight years.

According to Okorocha, the South-East should prioritise political collaboration with other regions rather than pursue a presidential arrangement that would last only four years.

He argued that supporting President Bola Tinubu for another political cycle would provide an opportunity for the region to strengthen its position and improve its chances of producing a president for a full eight-year tenure in the future.

Speaking about Obi’s proposal to serve only one term if elected president in 2027, Okorocha said: “Obi is a fantastic gentleman; clear in his head. There’s nothing wrong with him, but we can’t do a four-year gambling.”

The former governor’s comments highlight the debate over Obi’s single-term proposal and the political strategy the South-East should adopt ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

While Okorocha acknowledged Obi’s personal qualities, he maintained that the region should consider the long-term implications of its political choices and work with other regions to achieve its presidential ambition.

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