2027: Nigeria Needs Fresh Leadership, Tinubu Should Retire, Says Presidential Candidate Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for President Bola Tinubu to step down before the 2027 general election, asserting that Nigeria requires a more dynamic and capable leader to navigate its escalating economic and security crises.

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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.

Speaking on Channels Television's Sunday Politics, Obi contended that President Tinubu's administration has failed to provide the necessary leadership to tackle the nation's growing challenges. He expressed concern that the president no longer possesses the capacity to govern effectively, drawing a stark contrast between Tinubu's tenure as governor of Lagos State and his current performance as president.

"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 stated. He maintained that Nigeria is heading in the wrong direction under the current leadership and stressed the urgent need for a change.

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As it is right now, Bola Tinubu is leading us nowhere. We will turn it so he can see it. That’s why maybe I’m calling for his retirement. The man should just step aside. Yes, he doesn’t have the capacity to do the job.

Obi urged Nigerians to shift their focus from political maneuvering to addressing pressing national issues such as poverty, hunger, education, and insecurity. He referenced recent global projections suggesting that nearly 79 percent of Nigerians could fall below the poverty line, with millions also at risk of food insecurity, underscoring the severity of the situation.

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Thank you to Donald Trump. Thank you to President Trump. But we need to do more, far more than what we are doing.

While acknowledging commendations from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Nigeria's efforts against insecurity, Obi insisted that the government's response remains insufficient. "Thank you to Donald Trump. Thank you to President Trump. But we need to do more, far more than what we are doing," he said. "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."

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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.