The presidency has dismissed Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Tinubu to resign over governance challenges, describing the statement as “childish and anti-democratic.”
Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), had urged Tinubu to step down following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement of his resignation amid political and economic pressures in the United Kingdom.
He argued that Nigerian leaders should also be held accountable for perceived failures in governance, citing worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and unmet campaign promises under the current administration.
Reacting in a statement issued on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson said Obi’s comparison between the UK and Nigeria was flawed and misleading.
“Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation is childish and hollow. It is not a call to hold the leader accountable. It is merely political grandstanding and an unworthy distraction,” Onanuga said.
He explained that Nigeria operates a presidential system with a fixed tenure, unlike the UK parliamentary system, where a prime minister can resign under political pressure or party decisions.
Onanuga also urged Obi to wait for the next general election in 2027 if he intended to test the president’s popularity, rather than making public demands for resignation.
The presidency further defended Tinubu’s performance, citing economic growth indicators, rising revenue, improved oil production, and reforms introduced since May 2023.
It also rejected claims that the president promised 24-hour electricity supply, insisting that Tinubu only pledged improvements in power delivery and billing systems.
According to the statement, ongoing reforms in the power sector, including the Electricity Act and expansion of prepaid metering, reflect the administration’s efforts to address longstanding challenges.
Onanuga maintained that the government remains focused on economic reforms, security improvements, and national development rather than political distractions.
