Nigeria: Peter Obi Demands Tinubu's Retirement, Cites Inability to Solve Economic Crisis

What the report says

Premium Times, in a report distributed by AllAfrica, said Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate for 2027 and former Anambra State governor, urged President Bola Tinubu to leave office rather than seek another term. Obi made the comments during an appearance on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics on Sunday night, arguing that Tinubu no longer has the energy or capacity to respond to Nigeria’s economic and security pressures.

According to the report, Obi contrasted Tinubu’s record as Lagos governor with his current presidency, saying the country is moving in the wrong direction and needs a more active leader. He also criticised Tinubu’s communication style, saying Nigerians elected the president, not his aides, and that national leaders should regularly address citizens directly on the state of government promises and results.

Obi said public debate should focus less on him and more on Nigeria’s problems, including poverty, hunger, out-of-school children, healthcare and alleged misuse of public funds. He cited World Bank and World Food Programme figures reported in the article, including claims that 79 per cent of Nigerians face poverty and that 35 million people could face hunger. He also linked insecurity to economic hardship, saying poverty and lack of education help create conditions for crime and kidnapping.

The remarks matter because they signal an early and direct opposition attack on Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election cycle. Obi also dismissed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as ineffective and said his own priority was not personal ambition but making Nigeria work, promising what he described as practical, measurable hope for citizens.