Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State says any politician pledging to serve only one term in office needs to undergo a psychiatric examination.
Governor Soludo, who spoke on Saturday during a rally held in Anambra South in support of his second-term ambition, questioned the logic behind such a promise, insisting that the Nigerian Constitution allows elected public officials to serve two terms, not just one.
“Tell us where it has ever happened or who. Anybody who is saying this needs a psychiatric examination because you are taking every one of us to be a fool.
“How can anybody with a functioning brain say that? Do you think you’re speaking to fools? You come before people and declare, ‘I will only serve one term.’
“Any politician who says that should be taken to a psychiatric hospital. Something must be wrong with the person,” Soludo said.
Last month, George Moghalu, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the Anambra Governorship election, pledged to serve a single term to encourage zoning and rotation of power in the state.
Also, at the federal level, both Peter Obi, former Presidential candidate of the LP, and Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, have pledged their willingness to serve only one term if elected President in 2027.
Obi said any candidate from the South elected President in 2027 must be prepared to leave office in 2031, in line with the “unwritten power-sharing agreement” and the zoning principle.
Speaking during a live X Space conversation with his supporters, Obi affirmed that while he is actively involved in coalition talks with like-minded Nigerians, he is not engaged in any discussions on joint tickets, including with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“I have not joined in any form of discussion on joint tickets, including with Atiku,” he said. “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 on the 28th of May, 2031—not the 29th, but the 28th.”
The Anambra Governorship election will be held on November 8, 2025.
Soludo also praised Anambra’s progress under his administration, noting that the state has moved beyond accommodating unqualified candidates.
“Anambra, we have advanced. There is a calibre of people that Anambra has gone higher; we are not going to go back. Anambra has no place for street urchins,” he said.
He also criticised those aspiring to become Governor without requisite certificates, noting that such ambitions are unrealistic and detrimental to the State’s development.
“Some of them have no school certificates, but they want to be Governor of Anambra,” he added.