Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign from office, accusing his administration of failing to address the country’s worsening economic challenges, rising insecurity, and declining living standards.
Obi made the call in a strongly-worded statement posted on his official X account on Monday, where he argued that the current administration has fallen short of the promises it made to Nigerians during the 2023 election campaign.
The former Anambra State governor said his position was influenced by recent political developments in the United Kingdom, particularly the resignation announcement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
According to Obi, Starmer’s decision demonstrates the level of accountability expected from leaders in functioning democracies when governments fail to meet the expectations of the people.
Reflecting on global political systems, Obi said he closely follows developments around the world to understand why some nations continue to progress while others struggle with governance and development.
“As a keen observer of global politics, my primary interest lies in examining what successful nations do right and the structural factors that cause others to lag or struggle with governance and development,” he stated.
Obi noted that Starmer’s resignation came amid growing public dissatisfaction over economic difficulties, rising living costs, and concerns about unmet policy commitments.
He argued that democratic leaders must be willing to accept responsibility when their administrations fail to deliver on key promises.
Drawing parallels with Nigeria’s political history, Obi recalled that Tinubu had previously demanded the resignation of former President Goodluck Jonathan during the height of the security crisis that followed the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok.
According to Obi, Tinubu had at the time maintained that government must be held accountable when it fails in its primary duty of protecting citizens and safeguarding lives.
“During the Chibok school kidnapping incident, he demanded the immediate resignation of President Jonathan, arguing that the government had failed in its most fundamental duty of protecting lives,” Obi said.
The former presidential candidate argued that the same standard of accountability should now be applied to Tinubu’s administration, given what he described as worsening national conditions.
Obi also revisited some of the major promises made by Tinubu during the 2023 election campaign, including commitments to improve electricity supply, strengthen security, fight corruption, and enhance the welfare of Nigerians.
According to him, Nigerians were assured that meaningful reforms would be implemented to improve living conditions and stimulate economic growth.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made several promises, including improved electricity supply. He also challenged the electorate not to vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver on those commitments,” Obi said.
However, he maintained that the current reality paints a different picture, insisting that many Nigerians are facing greater hardship than before.
Obi lamented the persistent challenges in the power sector, noting that electricity supply remains unstable despite repeated assurances of improvement. He also pointed to the continued wave of kidnappings, violent attacks, and insecurity affecting several parts of the country.
“At present, however, these conditions have worsened. Electricity supply remains unreliable, insecurity has intensified in many areas, including kidnappings, and economic hardship has deepened rather than eased,” he stated.
The Labour Party stalwart further alleged that critical sectors of the economy have continued to struggle under the current administration. He cited concerns over infrastructure development, transportation, public service delivery, and anti-corruption efforts, which he said have failed to meet public expectations.
According to Obi, the worsening socio-economic conditions have left many Nigerians disillusioned and frustrated, with millions battling rising costs of living and declining purchasing power.
Based on these concerns, he said the President should consider stepping down in the interest of democratic accountability and national progress.
“I, therefore, join Nigerians of goodwill in calling for the resignation of the President over monumental failure in governance,” Obi declared.
He stressed that resignation should not be viewed as an act of weakness or defeat but rather as a demonstration of responsibility and respect for democratic principles.
Obi added that such a decision would help strengthen Nigeria’s democratic culture by reinforcing the idea that leaders must be held accountable for their actions, promises, and overall performance while in office.
