Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either resign from office over what he described as failures in governance or decline to seek re-election in the 2027 presidential election.
Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, said the Tinubu administration’s handling of insecurity and governance had worsened the welfare of Nigerians and raised serious concerns about leadership and accountability.
The former Anambra State governor made the call in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesman, Idris Zekeri, saying his position was driven by patriotism rather than political ambition.
According to the statement, Obi recalled that in 2014, then-opposition leader Bola Tinubu demanded the resignation of former President Goodluck Jonathan following the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, accusing the administration of failing to demonstrate leadership and compassion after waiting 19 days before contacting the then Governor of Borno State.
Obi argued that a similar situation has unfolded under the current administration.
He noted that it has been 52 days since the abduction of 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers from a school in Oyo State on May 15, 2026, without what he described as any significant gesture of solidarity from President Tinubu to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
The NDC presidential candidate questioned whether the President remained fit to continue leading the country, citing what he called a deepening leadership crisis.
Obi disclosed that he had publicly commented on the Oyo school abduction on two occasions, including making a direct appeal to the kidnappers to release the victims. He also said he had spoken with Governor Makinde twice to express solidarity.
He added that on July 3, he visited Ibadan alongside economist Prof. Pat Utomi to identify with the governor and discuss the worsening security situation.
According to Obi, Governor Makinde informed him during the visit that he had not received any telephone call from President Tinubu regarding the abduction.
Drawing from his experience as Governor of Anambra State, Obi said former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan regularly reached out to governors during major security emergencies.
He maintained that the current administration has witnessed more than 13 school abductions, arguing that the President’s alleged failure to personally engage affected state governors reflects a lack of empathy and leadership.
Obi said the continued captivity of schoolchildren, teachers and other victims of kidnapping highlights what he described as the collapse of governance under the Tinubu administration.
He insisted that in view of what he termed “glaring incompetence,” President Tinubu should either resign from office or decline to seek another term in the 2027 election.
“This appeal is motivated by patriotism, not politics. A New Nigeria is Possible,” the statement said.