Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has come under fire from supporters of Labour Party’s Peter Obi, known as Obidients, over a statement made at a political rally which has since been misinterpreted and gone viral online.

The controversy was triggered by a brief video clip of Governor Soludo advising against political aspirants who promise to serve only one term. Although the comment was directed at a local aspirant within the context of Anambra’s governorship rotation system, it was swiftly misconstrued as a jab at Peter Obi, who has made a similar one-term promise for his presidential bid.

This development exemplifies what Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie described as “the danger of a single story.”

“The consequence of the single story is that it robs people of dignity,” Adichie once said—a quote now resurfacing in discussions about the current misunderstanding.

The Context: Zoning in Anambra Politics

Governor Soludo’s remarks were made while addressing Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a fellow indigene of Anambra South who has pledged to serve a single term if elected governor.

Soludo explained that the promise is not necessarily a noble one but could be an attempt to disrupt the state’s long-standing zoning agreement. Under this unwritten but respected political arrangement, the governorship rotates among Anambra’s three senatorial zones: Anambra South, Central, and North.

As Soludo currently represents Anambra South and is eligible for a second term, the next rotation is expected to favour Anambra Central. Ukachukwu’s campaign strategy—pledging a one-term service—was seen by Soludo as a backdoor strategy to return the seat to the South before its due time.

“The grand conspiracy behind the single-term pledge is to bait unsuspecting Anambra voters and grab power by subterfuge. This is quite disingenuous and unreasonable,” Governor Soludo said.

Obidients Miss the Mark

Following the rally, a cut-down version of the Governor’s speech circulated across social media platforms. Many Obidients interpreted it as an indirect attack on Peter Obi, the former Anambra governor and 2023 presidential candidate, who has vowed to serve only one term if elected in 2027.

Observers note that this leap—from a local zoning issue in Anambra to national presidential ambitions—was politically premature and lacked factual grounding.

Governor Soludo made no mention of Peter Obi, presidential politics, or the Labour Party in his comments. He spoke strictly within the context of local politics.

“The leap from discussing Anambra State zoning arrangements to assumptions about Peter Obi’s presidential ambitions is taking fanatical politicking too far,” the governor’s media team stated.

Media’s Role in Misinterpretation

Soludo’s camp also criticised certain media platforms and bloggers for engaging in clickbait and failing to provide sufficient context in their reports.

“By reporting Governor Soludo’s statement in cut-and-paste isolation, without providing the full context of his speech or the background of Anambra’s zoning politics, news outlets created fertile ground for misinterpretation,” the statement read.

The Governor’s spokesperson called on journalists to offer deeper, more balanced reporting that includes background, audience, and purpose—especially during politically sensitive periods.

Call for Maturity and Civic Responsibility

Political commentators say this incident should serve as a teaching moment, not just for Obidients but for all politically active Nigerians. It underscores the importance of verifying context and resisting the urge to weaponise misinterpretations.

“In our increasingly polarised political environment… we must resist the temptation to read malicious intent into every statement made by political figures we may disagree with,” the editorial noted.

“Obidients and Peter Obi must demonstrate the political maturity and leadership that their movement claims to represent,” the commentary urged.

As Anambra heads toward its November 2025 governorship election and Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, stakeholders are encouraged to focus on issue-based debates rather than emotion-driven assumptions.

“The strength of any democracy lies not in the absence of political disagreement, but in the ability of its citizens and institutions to engage with those disagreements thoughtfully, decently, and constructively,” the editorial concluded.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in high-level talks to draft former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, into the 2027 presidential race to challenge incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A close ally of the former president confirmed this development, stating that the plan has gained momentum — with Jonathan reportedly open to the idea.

According to the ally, who spoke to Vanguard, Jonathan’s decision is fueled by the urgent need to “address Nigeria’s rising poverty, hardship, and the suffering of its people.”

“The project to bring back Jonathan is being driven by respected Nigerian leaders and elders who believe he stabilised the country and its economy during his tenure,” the source revealed.

Behind-the-Scenes Consultations Already Underway

Jonathan, who hails from Otuoke, Bayelsa State, is said to have met with former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) in Minna, Niger State, to discuss his potential return.

He is also holding consultations across the South-South, meeting stakeholders to solidify support within the region — which many believe remains a stronghold for the former president.

In a parallel effort, high-ranking PDP stakeholders reportedly visited The Gambia to persuade Jonathan, emphasizing that the party is ready to back him as the rallying figure in the race to reclaim Aso Rock.

PDP Confirms Overtures, Public Sentiment Favors Jonathan

Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, confirmed the move in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service.

“Many Nigerians have come to realise the mistake they made in not re-electing Dr. Jonathan. They now acknowledge his achievements and are even apologising, pleading with him to return and rescue the country,” he said.

Abdullahi added that since Jonathan remains a PDP member, the party has no constitutional barrier to fielding him as its candidate.

Jonathan Seeks Clarity on Terms of Engagement

Sources within the PDP reveal that Jonathan is not rushing into the decision. According to Abdullahi, he is currently consulting with close advisers and demanding clarity on whether he will undergo primaries or be handed an automatic ticket, and whether the party genuinely supports his leadership comeback.

“He has started listening to the emissaries and is consulting with his inner circle,” Abdullahi stated.

Party Leaders Open to Automatic Ticket for Jonathan

Daniel Woyengikuro, PDP’s National Financial Secretary, strongly endorsed the idea of Jonathan leading the party again.

“He is not just a former president; he is the leader of the party now. Aside from Obasanjo, the next person in line is him. Goodluck Jonathan is the national leader of this party,” Woyengikuro told Vanguard in Abuja.

“For me, that’s what I firmly stand for. An automatic ticket for him, as it stands now. Because we must salvage both this party and the nation,” he added.

Seyi Makinde Also Praised as Running Mate Option

Woyengikuro further praised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as a potential partner in the 2027 race, citing his youth and ability to bridge generational gaps. He positioned Jonathan and Makinde as his two top choices for the presidency and vice presidency if the PDP intends to take back power.

Legal Debate Over Jonathan’s Eligibility

Jonathan’s return has reignited legal arguments over his constitutional eligibility due to a 2018 amendment.

The Fourth Alteration Act, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, states:

Section 137(3): “A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”

The clause seeks to prevent anyone from holding office for more than eight years. However, legal experts are divided on whether this applies to Jonathan, who was first sworn in in 2010 after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and then elected in 2011.

Court Rulings Back Jonathan’s Eligibility

A Federal High Court in Bayelsa, in a 2022 judgment, ruled that the amendment could not be applied retroactively to disqualify Jonathan from contesting.

Justice Isa Hamma Dashen ruled that Jonathan’s oath-taking in 2010 was not due to winning an election, but to complete Yar’Adua’s term in accordance with the constitution. He added that the law’s effective date of June 8, 2018, means Jonathan’s case remains unaffected.

Lawyers Still Split

Mr. Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) and Elekwachi Nnabuihe, both prominent legal minds, agreed that Jonathan remains eligible to contest, as the amendment was not retroactive.

“Jonathan is still entitled to contest in my humble view,” Akinlaja said.

“He has only been elected once. Laws do not have retroactive effect,” Nnabuihe added.

But others, like human rights lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, disagree. He warned that a new presidency could violate constitutional limits on tenure.

“If Jonathan contests again and wins, he will have exceeded the maximum number of eight years allowed,” he warned, citing Supreme Court precedents.

Bode George: Jonathan Is Best for PDP

Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, lent his support, describing Jonathan as “eminently qualified.”

“He is the easiest to sell because he has a track record, especially the economic indices during his tenure,” George said.

He added that Jonathan’s previous swearing-in under the Doctrine of Necessity does not count against him legally.

The Bigger Picture: 2027 Power Rotation

Analysts believe Jonathan’s single-term option could appeal to northern political actors, as it creates a path for power to return to the North in 2031, potentially securing another eight-year run.

Whether Jonathan ultimately agrees or not, the PDP’s move has already started reshaping the 2027 political landscape, raising both hope and controversy across Nigeria’s political spectrum.

The political atmosphere in Anambra State is heating up following a widely circulated misinterpretation of a recent campaign statement made by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. A senior legal practitioner, Barrister Darlington Agomuo, has criticised former presidential candidate Peter Obi and his supporters for prematurely reacting to a statement that, according to him, was not directed at Obi.

Speaking at a political rally in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area, Governor Soludo remarked that “some politicians come with the idea of ruling for only one term.” The comment was quickly linked by supporters of Peter Obi to the Labour Party leader’s recent commitment to serve just one term if elected in 2027.

However, Barr. Agomuo dismissed these interpretations as entirely off the mark.

“I will advise Peter Obi to stop talking ahead of time. If you check very well, Soludo was not referring to Obi,” said Barrister Agomuo. “Go and listen to the context of that statement. Ukachukwu said he would take one term in Anambra, and Soludo told him that it would alter the political permutation in Anambra, and that was why he said so.”

He further explained that Soludo made the comment in direct response to political aspirant Nicholas Ukachukwu, who declared his intention to run for a single term in the upcoming Anambra governorship election.

“He didn’t mention Peter Obi; it was a coincidence that Soludo made the statement when Obi was talking about one term,” the lawyer clarified. “If you look at the campaign statement, Governor Soludo was not referring to Peter Obi specifically.”

Barr. Agomuo expressed disappointment at how the situation has been manipulated by some media platforms and Obi’s supporters.

“Peter Obi replied ahead of time without looking to see whether it was for him or Ukachukwu. If it is for Obi, Governor Soludo would not have said it would alter the political permutation in Anambra, that after him, Anambra Central will take, and that was why I said it wasn’t for him,” Agomuo noted.

Obi, during a recent public appearance, reaffirmed his commitment to serving only one term if given the opportunity, drawing inspiration from former US President John F. Kennedy and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. But Agomuo questioned the relevance of those historical comparisons.

“Mandela served one term because of ill-health, Kennedy was killed in office. Those permutations are not in our constitution,” he said. “The constitution recognises that you must serve one term, so why are you repeating it, as if you are entitled to two terms but want to take only one term?”

Agomuo also took aim at what he described as a growing culture of entitlement to a second term in Nigerian politics.

“That convention that when you enter into office, you must serve two terms is affecting our country — that even if you are not doing well, you must serve the two terms.”

In a separate reaction from a political stakeholder in the state, the supporter strongly rebuked those attacking Soludo for simply performing his duties.

“If Soludo eats lunch, the hypnotised Obidiots will say it is because Peter Obi has not had breakfast. Should he stop being himself, a performer, or deliberately fail to make Obi shine? No discerning mind will approve the latter,” the stakeholder stated.

Political Undercurrents in Anambra

Observers say the latest misunderstanding underscores the political tension ahead of the next electoral cycle in Anambra. Governor Soludo, widely acknowledged for his reforms and infrastructural development across the state, has faced pressure from some quarters that appear keen to pit him against Peter Obi, a former Anambra governor and prominent figure in southeastern politics.

“While Soludo is busy transforming Anambra, some people are uncomfortable because no man in Igbo land must do well just to let Obi shine,” read a statement attributed to a political analyst close to APGA.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has also refuted claims that Soludo’s remark was aimed at Obi, insisting that the opposition is orchestrating a media campaign to stoke division and discredit the governor’s performance.

Background:

Governor Charles Soludo is the incumbent governor of Anambra State and a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Peter Obi is a former Governor of Anambra and was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 election.

Nicholas Ukachukwu is a gubernatorial aspirant in Anambra State who recently announced plans to serve for only one term.

As the 2025 election season approaches, political analysts warn that misinterpretations and media spin could further destabilise the fragile harmony within the state’s political space.