The Presidency has dismissed calls by the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, for President Bola Tinubu to resign, describing the demand as childish, baseless and a distraction from governance.
The reaction was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanuga, Obi’s remarks were misplaced and reflected what he described as a distorted assessment of Nigeria’s situation since President Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
“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,” the statement said.
The Presidency argued that Nigeria operates a presidential system of government, unlike the United Kingdom’s parliamentary structure, making Obi’s comparison inappropriate.
“Obi forgets our country does not run a parliamentary system of government like the UK. We run a presidential system, with the president elected to a fixed four-year term,” Onanuga stated.
The Presidency also pointed to recent electoral victories recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in parts of the country as evidence of continued public support for President Tinubu and his administration.
According to the statement, the outcomes of the elections in Ekiti State and several senatorial districts should concern Obi and his political allies ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Obi should wait until the presidential election to know what the people think of Tinubu’s government. Moving to use X to harangue the President out of office is off the mark and anti-democratic,” the Presidency added.
On security, Onanuga maintained that the Tinubu administration inherited longstanding challenges and has recorded measurable successes through intensified military operations and increased investment in security infrastructure.
He claimed that thousands of terrorists have been neutralised, hundreds of kidnapped victims rescued and security operations strengthened through the deployment of advanced technology and drones.
The Presidency also accused Obi of lacking the moral standing to criticise Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, alleging that he failed to adequately secure Anambra State during his tenure as governor.
On the economy, Onanuga rejected Obi’s assessment that Nigeria is in its worst condition, insisting that available economic indicators show improvement under the current administration.
He cited rising government revenue, increased foreign reserves, growth in oil production, trade surpluses and gains in the stock market as evidence of progress.
According to him, President Tinubu inherited severe economic challenges but implemented reforms that previous administrations avoided.
The statement also highlighted infrastructure projects being executed across the country, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
Onanuga further defended the administration’s record in the education sector, noting that there had been no prolonged strikes by university unions such as ASUU and NASU since Tinubu took office.
He also addressed criticisms regarding electricity supply, insisting that the President never promised immediate 24-hour electricity nationwide, contrary to claims by critics.
According to him, Tinubu’s administration has introduced reforms aimed at decentralising electricity generation and distribution through the Electricity Act while expanding the rollout of prepaid meters across the country.
The Presidency acknowledged the economic difficulties facing many Nigerians but argued that global factors, including tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to international supply chains, have contributed to current challenges.
Onanuga concluded by describing Obi’s call for resignation as a political stunt rather than a genuine attempt to hold the government accountable.
“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 said.
The Presidency maintained that President Tinubu remains focused on implementing reforms, improving security and laying the foundation for long-term economic growth despite ongoing challenges.
