Amaechi made the promise during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, emphasising that national interest must come first.

Former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that he would serve only one term if elected president in 2027, citing the need to uphold Nigeria’s power-sharing principle between the North and South.

Amaechi made the promise during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, emphasising that national interest must come first.

“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,” Amaechi said when asked if he would consider a single term under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a newly formed political coalition that is yet to decide on its zoning formula for the next election.

Nigeria operates an unwritten but widely respected rotational presidency between the North and South.

President Bola Tinubu, a southerner from the South-West, took office in 2023 following the eight-year tenure of Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner from the North-West.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, conversations around power rotation have taken centre stage. Although the ADC has not announced its zoning arrangement, Amaechi appeared confident the party would respect the balance.

“Of course, of course,” he said, when asked if a southern candidate could do a single term.

“For now, the way Nigeria is, you must keep to that agreement—unwritten agreement—that says South eight years, North eight years.”

The former minister recounted his role in advocating for the return of power to the North in 2015, emphasising his strong belief in power sharing between the country’s two major regions.

“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 added.

SaharaReporters previously reported that the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also earlier assured his supporters at home and abroad that he would contest the 2027 presidential election.

He stated that he would be on the ballot for the Presidency in 2027 and was willing to serve one term in office, according to a statement issued and signed by Ibrahim Umar, spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), on Monday, June 30, 2025.

Obi made the declaration during an X Space interactive session with supporters, where he also addressed issues ranging from party affairs and national insecurity to the state of the economy and President Bola Tinubu’s foreign travels.

"If there is any form of agreement that will restrict me to four years in office, I will comply with the agreement and be ready to leave office by 28th May, 2031," Obi declared, reaffirming his political ambition and readiness to serve for only four years if that becomes a condition for coalition support.

Obi pledged to restore stability in the country within two years if elected, and urged Nigerians to join him in the effort to rebuild the nation.

"I will bring stability in Nigeria within two years in office. Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria," he said.