Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said that the proposed single-term presidency associated with Peter Obi is not the best political option for the South-East ahead of the 2027 general election.
Okorocha described Obi, the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, as a decent and intelligent individual but argued that the region should not risk committing itself to a four-year political arrangement.
He made the remarks on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, following the Federal High Court judgment recognising him as the winner of the APC senatorial primary for Imo West.
“Obi is a fantastic gentleman, clear in his head. Oh, there’s nothing wrong with him. But we can’t gamble. We can’t do a four-year gamble this time,” he said.
Okorocha Says South-East Should Prioritise Political Strategy
The former governor acknowledged that he had previously supported the idea of a single-term presidency. However, he maintained that the political circumstances surrounding the 2027 election required a different approach.
According to him, political decisions should be guided by strategic considerations and the long-term interests of the South-East rather than emotions or sentiments.
He explained that his call for support for President Bola Tinubu was based on what he considered a strategic political alliance, rather than personal feelings or sentiment.
“So we are supporting Tinubu, not on an emotional or sentimental basis, but for a strategic alliance,” Okorocha said.
He further argued that the region needed to carefully consider its political decisions, particularly in view of its aspiration to produce Nigeria’s president in the future.
Okorocha maintained that political support should provide the South-East with room to negotiate and pursue its interests, rather than depend on a single-term arrangement.
Plans To Engage South-East Political Stakeholders
Okorocha also disclosed that he had not yet discussed his position with political stakeholders in the region.
However, he said he intended to reach out to them and expressed confidence that they would give his arguments consideration.
“I have not spoken to anybody, but I will speak, and they will hear me. They will listen to me,” he said.
His comments add to the ongoing debate over the political direction of the South-East ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly concerning the region's relationship with the ruling APC and its expectations for future political representation.
While Okorocha is advocating support for Tinubu on strategic grounds, his remarks also highlight the different considerations surrounding the region's political choices, including the question of presidential tenure and the long-term pursuit of an Igbo presidency.
