Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign, arguing that the president no longer has the capacity to tackle Nigeria’s deepening economic and security challenges.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, Obi said the country was “headed in the wrong direction” under the current administration and insisted that the 2027 general election should focus on issues affecting ordinary Nigerians rather than political distractions.
The former Anambra State governor said President Tinubu should step aside, claiming the leadership qualities he displayed as Lagos State governor are no longer evident. “We are headed in the wrong direction now. You can see it. That’s why I have called for his resignation. The man should just step aside. He doesn’t have the capacity to do the job,” Obi said.
He added: “The Bola Tinubu that was governor is not the one that is president today. He’s tired. He should be allowed to retire in peace and then go home.”
Obi argued that the country’s worsening poverty, hunger and insecurity should dominate national discourse ahead of the 2027 elections.
Citing international reports, he expressed concern over rising poverty levels, noting that a significant proportion of Nigerians could fall below the poverty line. “The World Bank has just said that 79% of Nigerians are going to face poverty. In a country of 230 million people, that’s over 180 million,” he said.
He also pointed to food insecurity, kidnapping and other security concerns, urging political leaders to focus on practical solutions. “This election in 2027 should be about issues that affect ordinary Nigerians. The World Food Programme has just said 35 million Nigerians are going to face hunger. Nigerians are being kidnapped. Let’s talk about Nigeria.”
Obi said government attention should shift towards improving healthcare, education and social welfare instead of political rhetoric.
He highlighted the growing number of out-of-school children and questioned the management of public funds that, according to him, could have been invested in critical sectors. “They should be talking about the issue of out-of-school children, the issue of health, and all these monies that are missing here and there that would have been invested properly,” he said.
Obi’s remarks come as political parties begin positioning for the 2027 general election, with the economy, insecurity and cost-of-living crisis expected to dominate campaign debates.
The former presidential candidate has also recently outlined plans to introduce a more progressive tax system that would place a higher tax burden on the wealthy while directing greater support to productive sectors of the economy and improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians if elected president.
