Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign on Monday, June 22, 2026. He described the administration’s record as a “monumental failure in governance” and posted the statement directly on his verified X account.
The timing was deliberate. Earlier that morning, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced outside 10 Downing Street that he would leave office in July — ending a premiership of less than two years — after mounting pressure over a stagnant economy and broken campaign pledges. Obi said the speech prompted serious reflection.
“This morning, I listened to the British Prime Minister’s speech announcing his planned resignation in July. As a keen observer of global politics, my primary interest lies in examining what successful nations do right and the structural factors that cause others to lag or struggle with governance and development,” he wrote.
Obi Turns Tinubu’s Old Words Against Him
The former Anambra State governor did not stop at the UK comparison. He went further, reaching back to 2015 to use Tinubu’s own record against him.
“Before 2015, our President on several occasions championed the call for the then President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over economic hardship and insecurity affecting Nigerians. During the Chibok school kidnapping incident, he demanded the immediate resignation of President Jonathan, arguing that the government had failed in its most fundamental duty of protecting lives,” Obi stated.
The Chibok abduction — the April 2014 mass kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in Borno State by Boko Haram — triggered nationwide outrage and became a defining political crisis for the Jonathan administration.
Tinubu was among those who publicly insisted Jonathan had to go. Now, Obi alleged Tinubu faces a comparable reckoning.
Obi also revisited Tinubu’s 2023 campaign commitments: better electricity, an anti-corruption drive, and improved welfare for citizens.
“He also challenged the electorate not to vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver on those commitments — particularly in providing stable power, fighting corruption, and improving the welfare of Nigerians,” Obi wrote.
His verdict on delivery was blunt.
“At present, however, these conditions have worsened. Electricity supply remains unreliable, insecurity has intensified in many areas, including kidnappings, and economic hardship has deepened rather than eased. Similar concerns are reflected across other critical sectors such as security, infrastructure, transportation, and anti-corruption efforts, all of which have regressed. We are in the worst possible condition,” he said.
Presidency Calls the Demand Childish and Hollow
The Aso Rock response came swiftly. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dismissed Obi’s statement in strong terms on Monday.
“Peter Obi’s latest comments calling for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation, based on a comparison with the British Prime Minister’s voluntary exit, are not only misplaced but also reflect a selective and distorted view of Nigeria’s realities since 2023,” Onanuga said.
He added that Nigeria operates a constitutional presidential democracy — not a parliamentary system where governments can fall on a vote of confidence. Tinubu, he said, was elected for a fixed four-year term and cannot be pushed out by social media campaigns.
“Peter Obi’s call for President Tinubu’s resignation is childish and hollow. It is not a call to hold the leader accountable. It is merely a political grandstand and an unworthy distraction,” the statement read.
The Presidency also rejected Obi’s economic picture outright. It alleged that Nigeria had posted positive GDP growth every quarter since May 2023, that foreign reserves had risen above $50 billion, and that oil production had climbed to roughly 1.8 million barrels per day.
Meanwhile, a separate statement from Sunday Dare, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, questioned Obi’s political seriousness.
“By calling for President Tinubu’s resignation, Peter Obi has done more damage to his own presidential credentials than any political opponent could have done,” Dare said.
The exchange comes as Nigeria moves deeper into its pre-election season, with the 2027 general elections drawing both sides into increasingly confrontation.
JolibaLive News will continue to cover Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections. Share this article to keep your network informed.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
