The Presidency has dismissed a call by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), for President Bola Tinubu to resign, describing the demand as “childish and hollow.”
In a statement issued on Monday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Obi’s remarks were politically motivated and aimed at diverting attention from recent electoral successes recorded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“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 political grandstanding and an unworthy distraction coming just hours after President Tinubu’s party recorded resounding victories in the weekend polls,” the statement said.
The Presidency accused Obi of drawing an inappropriate comparison between Nigeria’s presidential system and the United Kingdom’s parliamentary democracy while presenting what it described as a distorted view of the country’s situation.
Obi had urged Tinubu to follow the example of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and step down over insecurity and economic difficulties facing the country.
Responding, Onanuga argued that Obi ignored the constitutional framework under which Nigeria operates.
“Nigeria does not run a parliamentary system like the UK. We operate a presidential system in which the president is elected for a fixed four-year term,” he said.
The presidential aide maintained that recent election outcomes in Ekiti, Nasarawa, Enugu, Ondo and Rivers states reflected continued public support for Tinubu and the APC.
According to him, the results served as an early indication of the administration’s popularity and should concern Obi and his political platform ahead of the 2027 general election.
Onanuga also defended the government’s handling of security challenges, stating that military operations had led to the rescue of hundreds of kidnapped victims and the neutralisation of thousands of terrorists and criminal elements.
He further highlighted what he described as positive economic indicators, including sustained GDP growth, improved foreign reserves, increased oil production, higher government revenues and stronger investor confidence.
The statement noted that the administration had recorded progress in infrastructure, education and power sector reforms, citing the student loan programme, major road projects and the Electricity Act as examples.
While acknowledging the high cost of living, the Presidency attributed inflationary pressures partly to global factors, including geopolitical tensions and disruptions in international supply chains.
Onanuga said President Tinubu remained focused on governance and reforms rather than political rhetoric, insisting that the administration was working to improve security, stabilise the economy and create a foundation for long-term prosperity.
He also criticised Obi’s comments, alleging that the former Anambra State governor was disconnected from realities on the ground.
“With his latest comments, we are convinced that Peter Obi lives in a self-constructed echo chamber where he repeats false narratives and believes his own version of reality about Nigeria’s situation,” Onanuga said.
