Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign, citing what he described as worsening governance outcomes and drawing comparisons with political accountability practices in other democracies.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Monday, Obi referenced the resignation announcement of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as an example of leadership responsibility in situations of public dissatisfaction.
He said he had reflected on Starmer’s decision and the broader principle that elected leaders must be accountable when governance outcomes fall short of public expectations.
“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,” Obi stated.
Obi argued that Starmer’s decision followed mounting public pressure linked to economic difficulties and unmet campaign promises, and said similar accountability should apply in Nigeria’s political environment.
He also recalled statements made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prior to the 2015 elections, when Tinubu criticised then-President Goodluck Jonathan over insecurity and governance failures during the Chibok school kidnapping crisis.
According to Obi, Tinubu had previously demanded leadership accountability and resignation in response to national security challenges at the time.
The opposition figure further cited campaign promises made by Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, including commitments to improve electricity supply, strengthen anti-corruption efforts, and address economic hardship.
Obi said that, in his view, conditions in the country had worsened since the administration took office, pointing to persistent power shortages, rising insecurity, and deepening economic strain.
“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 said.
He added that other sectors, including infrastructure, transportation, and governance reforms, had also not met public expectations.
Describing the situation as critical, Obi said Nigeria was facing “the worst possible condition” and argued that leadership change was necessary to restore public confidence.
“I, therefore, join Nigerians of goodwill in calling for the resignation of the President over monumental failure in governance,” he stated.
Obi concluded that voluntary resignation would strengthen democratic accountability and reinforce the principle that public office is a responsibility rather than a privilege.
He added that Nigeria must move toward a political culture rooted in responsibility, transparency, and measurable performance in governance.
