Peter Obi Declares Tinubu ‘Tired’, Urges President to Step Aside Ahead of 2027 Polls

• Peter Obi has called on President Bola Tinubu to step aside ahead of the 2027 presidential election, claiming the President no longer has the capacity to address Nigeria’s mounting challenges.

• The former Labour Party presidential candidate said poverty, hunger and insecurity should dominate political debate rather than political personalities.

• Obi also argued that economic hardship fuels insecurity, calling for greater investment in education and poverty reduction.

• He maintained that his interest lies in seeing Nigeria work, rather than pursuing the presidency for personal ambition.

July 26, (THEWILL) — Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on President Bola Tinubu to step aside ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that the President no longer has the capacity to address Nigeria’s worsening economic and security challenges.

Speaking during an interview on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Obi said the country required a leader with the energy and commitment to reverse what he described as a steady decline in living standards and governance.

“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.

The former Anambra State governor contended that Tinubu’s administration had failed to provide effective leadership, adding that Nigeria was “headed in the wrong direction”.

“As it is right now, Bola Tinubu is leading us nowhere… he doesn’t have the capacity to do the job,” he said.

Obi Links Poverty to Insecurity

Obi centred much of his criticism on the country’s economic and social conditions, saying rising poverty, hunger and insecurity should dominate political discourse ahead of the 2027 elections rather than personality-driven debates.

Citing recent reports by international organisations, he said the country’s growing poverty levels demanded urgent attention.

“The issue we should be discussing is poverty, out-of-school children, healthcare and how public resources are being invested,” Obi said, arguing that governance should focus on improving citizens’ welfare.

He also pointed to food insecurity, saying millions of Nigerians faced hunger and that the next presidential election should be driven by policies capable of addressing the country’s pressing challenges.

Obi further criticised the government’s handling of insecurity, despite recent international recognition of efforts to tackle the problem.

Responding to remarks by former US President Donald Trump commending Tinubu’s efforts against insecurity, Obi acknowledged the praise but maintained that the administration’s response had fallen short of what the situation required.

“I’ve heard people, and Donald Trump is now confirming it, say he has done his best. But with the crisis we are facing, his best is not enough. We need to do more,” he said.

To support his argument, Obi cited recent reports of mass abductions in Zamfara State, saying continued kidnappings demonstrated that insecurity remained a major national emergency.

He argued that security challenges could not be solved through military action alone, insisting that poverty and lack of educational opportunities were key drivers of criminality.

“You can’t create mass poverty and think you can deal with insecurity. The more you put people out of poverty, the more you reduce criminality. You need to invest massively in education,” he said.

Obi Says Nigeria Comes First

Outlining how he would approach governance if elected president, Obi said he would take personal responsibility for responding to security emergencies.

“Whatever it takes to secure any Nigerian, I will do that,” he said, adding that a president should be prepared to make every effort to protect citizens.

On his own political ambitions, Obi insisted that his motivation was not personal but centred on improving the country’s fortunes.

“I’m not desperate to be Nigerian president. I’m desperate to see Nigeria work,” he said, adding that he would support any individual capable of delivering effective governance.

The former governor said he remained concerned about what he described as Nigeria’s continued decline, pointing to increasing poverty, rising numbers of out-of-school children and deteriorating social conditions.

He reiterated his vision of building “a Nigeria that is united and peaceful” where citizens would have equal opportunities regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Obi’s remarks come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election continue to gather momentum, with opposition figures increasingly scrutinising the Tinubu administration’s record on the economy, security and governance. The Presidency has repeatedly defended its policies, arguing that ongoing reforms are necessary to stabilise the economy and deliver long-term growth.