'Tinubu should go home': Obi makes explosive call for president to step aside

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign, arguing that the President no longer has the capacity to address Nigeria's mounting economic and security challenges.

Speaking on Channels Television's Sunday Politics, the former Anambra State governor said the country was moving in the wrong direction under Tinubu's leadership and required a leader with the energy and commitment to confront its problems.

Obi said Tinubu should "step aside" and retire, claiming the President was no longer capable of effectively governing the country.

"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 said.

He added: "As it is right now, Bola Tinubu is leading us nowhere... The man should just step aside. He doesn't have the capacity to do the job."

The comments mark Obi's latest criticism of the Tinubu administration as political attention gradually shifts towards the 2027 general elections.

Obi also cited recent assessments by international organisations to argue that Nigeria's worsening socio-economic conditions should dominate public discourse rather than partisan politics.

Obi Warns on Poverty, Hunger

Referring to a recent World Bank report, he expressed concern over rising poverty levels, saying the country faced a growing humanitarian crisis that demanded urgent government attention.

"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. That should be the issue we should be discussing," he said.

He also criticised political leaders for failing to prioritise issues such as education, healthcare and public accountability.

"They should be talking about the issue of out-of-school children, talking about the issue of health, and all these monies that are missing here and there that would have been invested properly. Nobody is discussing it," Obi said.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate further urged political leaders to ensure that debates ahead of the 2027 elections focus on the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, pointing to food insecurity and insecurity across the country.

"This election in 2027 should be about issues that affect ordinary Nigerians... Nigerians are being kidnapped. Let's talk about Nigeria," he said.

The Presidency has repeatedly defended Tinubu's economic reforms, arguing they are necessary to stabilise the economy despite the short-term hardship experienced by many Nigerians.