The Presidency on Monday dismissed calls by the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for President Bola Tinubu to resign, describing the remarks as “childish, hollow and an unworthy distraction.”
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said Obi’s comments were misleading and an attempt to downplay the administration’s performance.
It also argued that Obi’s criticism was aimed at undermining the APC’s recent electoral victories, including the Ekiti governorship election and senatorial by-elections.
According to the statement, Obi’s comparison of President Tinubu’s situation to the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reflected a misunderstanding of Nigeria’s presidential system of government.
“The Presidency on Monday dismissed calls by the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation as ‘childish, hollow and an unworthy distraction,’” the statement read.
It added that Obi’s assessment of Nigeria as being in its “worst possible condition” was not supported by available economic data or international evaluations of the country’s progress under the current administration.
The Presidency further insisted that Nigeria operates a presidential system with fixed terms, unlike the parliamentary system in the United Kingdom, making Obi’s comparison inappropriate.
“The Presidency said Obi’s latest comments… reflect a selective and distorted view of Nigeria’s realities since 2023,” the statement added.
It also referenced recent election outcomes in Ekiti and other constituencies, saying they demonstrated continued public support for President Tinubu and the ruling party.
“The election results… show that President Tinubu and his party are popular with Nigerians,” it said.
The Presidency warned that the results of the recent polls should concern Obi politically ahead of the 2027 general elections, advising him to await the verdict of voters.
It also criticised what it described as Obi’s reliance on social media for political commentary, calling it “anti-democratic,” while highlighting ongoing security and governance efforts which it said were being ignored in his criticisms.
