APC Chieftain Mbia Dismisses Obi’s One-Term Pledge as Political Gimmick

On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Mr. Cletus Obun Mbia, a former lawmaker and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, criticized Mr. Peter Obi’s pledge to serve a single four-year term if elected president in 2027, calling it an unconvincing political stunt during an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics. Mbia, a Cross River APC leader, rejected Obi’s comparison to Nelson Mandela, arguing that Mandela’s legacy as a lifelong fighter for South Africa’s freedom earned him leadership without needing to announce a single term, unlike Obi, whom he accused of lacking a transformative record. Mbia challenged Obi’s “consumption to production” mantra, pointing out that during his eight-year tenure as Anambra governor (2006–2014), Obi failed to establish industries or enhance technical education beyond improving WAEC pass rates (Anambra ranked first in 2010, per WAEC data). He further accused Obi of undermining grassroots democracy by delaying local government elections until his final year in 2013, per Premium Times reports.

Mbia dismissed Obi’s pledge as a bid for attention, suggesting the APC would counter his narrative during the 2027 campaign, stating, “Peter is not one of those that we should trust.” The debate over Obi’s promise, backed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, has polarized opinions. Supporters like Chief Peter Ameh of CUPP praise its alignment with Section 135(2) of the 1999 Constitution, while critics, including PDP’s Timothy Osadolor and Osun APC’s Kola Olabisi, argue it undermines Nigeria’s two-term provision and reflects desperation. X posts from @SaharaReporters and @TheNationNews on August 5, 2025, highlight the controversy, with some users lauding Obi’s integrity and others, like @APCWatchNG, echoing Mbia’s view of it as a ploy to sway voters amid coalition rivalries with Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi.