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By SCM Correspondent
LAGOS, NIGERIA — The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign from office immediately.
Obi labeled the current administration a “monumental failure in governance,” pointing to a sharp increase in economic hardship, a breakdown of security, and the rapidly declining standard of living across Nigeria.
The former Anambra State governor made the demand in a statement released via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday.
According to Obi, his call for the President’s resignation was prompted by the recent resignation announcement of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Obi noted that Starmer’s exit from leadership serves as a stark reminder of the true meaning of accountability, honor, and patriotism in public office—values he argues are sorely missing in Nigeria’s current leadership.
”The resignation of the British Prime Minister underscores the importance of accountability in public office,” Obi wrote, emphasizing that leaders must step aside when they can no longer deliver on their promises to the electorate.
He further noted that Nigeria has been plunged into an unprecedented multi-dimensional crisis under President Tinubu’s watch.
He listed skyrocketing inflation, a volatile currency, widespread hunger, and the unabated activities of bandits and terrorists as proof that the administration has lost control of the nation’s affairs.
The fierce political rivalry between Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu traces back to the fiercely contested February 2023 presidential election. Tinubu, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Obi, who galvanized a massive youth-led movement popularly known as the “Obidients,” finished third in the official results but vehemently challenged the outcome in court, alleging widespread irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws.
Since the Supreme Court upheld Tinubu’s victory late last year, Obi has taken on the role of an unofficial leader of the opposition, frequently using his social media platforms to critique the presidency’s fiscal policies and handling of national security.
This latest friction comes at a time of immense domestic pressure for the Tinubu administration.
Since removing the petrol subsidy and floating the Naira shortly after taking office in May 2023, the administration has faced severe backlash as inflation reached historic highs, sparking numerous cost-of-living protests across major Nigerian cities.
While the presidency has consistently pleaded for patience, arguing that these economic reforms are necessary “pain before gain” to save the economy, opposition figures like Obi argue that the policies are poorly executed and lack human empathy.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency has yet to issue an official response to Obi’s latest call for resignation, though presidential spokespersons have previously dismissed his criticisms as sore-loser politicking.
