Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, urged President Bola Tinubu to leave office ahead of the 2027 election. He spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme with Seun Okinbaloye.
Obi argued that Nigeria required new energy and capacity. “As it is right now, Bola Tinubu is leading us nowhere. We will turn it so he can see it. That’s why maybe I’m calling for his retirement. The man should just step aside. Yes, he doesn’t have the capacity to do the job,” he added.
He linked the appeal to rising hardship. Obi cited a World Bank report that projected 79 percent of Nigerians faced poverty, which he calculated as over 180 million people in a population of 230 million. He also referenced a World Food Programme estimate that 35 million Nigerians risked hunger.
Furthermore, Obi pointed to insecurity and kidnappings as central issues. He said the 2027 election should address problems that affect ordinary citizens, including out-of-school children, healthcare and proper use of public funds. “Nigerians are being kidnapped. Let’s talk about Nigeria,” he stated.
In an earlier interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Obi made a similar point. “Tinubu is tired and needs to go home and rest,” he said then. He claimed poverty numbers rose from 87 million when Tinubu took office to 140 million, while insecurity worsened. “You can’t renew failure,” he added.
