By Douglas Princemola
Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed political aspirants who pledge to serve only one term in office, describing such promises as both deceitful and insulting to the intelligence of the electorate.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News Primetime, Soludo stressed that no serious leader could deliver meaningful transformation within just four years, insisting that politicians who make such commitments are either deliberately dishonest or not in touch with reality.
He said politicians who make one-term promises know their manifestos cannot be achieved in four years, and are simply playing on people’s intelligence, thinking Anambra voters can be easily deceived.
Soludo noted that the one-term pledge is not a new political gimmick, recalling how it was used during the 2017 governorship election. He pointed out that despite such promises, the electorate overwhelmingly supported his predecessor, who won across all 21 local government areas.
According to the governor, governance is a long-term project requiring continuity, focus, and strategic implementation. He argued that aspirants making such pledges are only exploiting public frustration with political leadership while offering no practical solutions.
The governor’s comments come amid renewed debate on political tenure in Nigeria, a country where calls for shorter terms or single-tenure structures have occasionally resurfaced. In 2011, for instance, then-President Goodluck Jonathan floated a proposal for a single term for presidents and governors, but it was widely rejected and branded as self-serving by opposition parties.
Soludo’s stance adds fresh weight to the argument that governance cannot be compressed into a four-year window without sacrificing substance for political expediency.
