2027 NDC Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to step aside ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that the President no longer possesses the energy and capacity required to address Nigeria’s deepening economic and security challenges.
Obi made the remarks during an appearance on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, where he assessed the state of the nation and the performance of the current administration.
According to the former Anambra State governor, Tinubu’s achievements as governor of Lagos State should not be confused with his current performance as President, insisting that the demands of leading Nigeria require a different level of capacity.
> “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 said.
He maintained that Nigeria was moving in the wrong direction under the present administration and needed leadership capable of reversing the country’s economic decline and worsening insecurity.
> “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 argued that the conversation ahead of the 2027 presidential election should focus less on politics and personalities and more on the everyday realities confronting Nigerians, including poverty, hunger, unemployment, poor healthcare, insecurity and education.
Referring to recent reports by international development organisations, he expressed concern over the growing number of Nigerians living below the poverty line.
> “World Bank has just said that 79% of Nigerians are going to face poverty. In a country of 230 million people, that’s over 180 million. That should be the issue we should be discussing.”
He also criticised what he described as misplaced national priorities.
> “They should be talking about the issue of out-of-school children, talking about the issue of health, and all these monies that are missing here and there that would have been invested properly. Nobody is discussing it.”
On food insecurity, Obi cited projections indicating that millions of Nigerians could struggle to feed themselves if urgent measures are not taken.
> “This election in 2027 should be about issues that affect the ordinary Nigerians… The World Food Programme has just said 35 million Nigerians are going to face hunger. Nigerians are being kidnapped. Let’s talk about Nigeria.”
‘His Best Is Not Enough’
Commenting on recent remarks by former United States President Donald Trump, who reportedly praised Tinubu’s efforts in tackling insecurity, Obi acknowledged the commendation but insisted that the administration’s performance remains insufficient given the scale of Nigeria’s security crisis.
> “Thank you to Donald Trump. Thank you to President Trump. But we need to do more, far more than what we are doing.”
He added:
> “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.”
Obi cited fresh cases of mass abductions in Zamfara State as evidence that insecurity continues to threaten communities across the country.
> “On Wednesday, 40 people were abducted in Zamfara, and the entire community, everybody is packing to run away. On Thursday, 50 were abducted. So we’re in a crisis situation that requires another capacity.”
Poverty Drives Insecurity
Obi stressed that Nigeria cannot effectively combat insecurity without addressing the widespread poverty that fuels crime and social instability.
> “You can’t create mass poverty and think you can deal with insecurity.”
He continued:
> “The more you put people out of poverty, the more you reduce criminality. You need to invest in education, massive.”
Outlining how he would respond if elected president, Obi said he would take direct responsibility for the country’s security architecture and remain actively involved in protecting lives.
> “Whatever it takes to secure any Nigerian, I will do that.”
He added:
> “If your people are dying, you should be ready to die. You’re the president. You’re the number one person.”
‘I’m Desperate to See Nigeria Work’
Addressing speculation about his own presidential ambition, Obi insisted that his motivation was not personal ambition but a genuine desire to see Nigeria prosper.
> “I’m not desperate to be Nigerian president. I’m desperate to see Nigeria work.”
He also said he would support any leader capable of delivering good governance.
> “If it’s working, I’ll support whatever makes it work.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s current state, Obi lamented what he described as the country’s steady decline, warning that poverty and the number of out-of-school children continue to increase.
> “Every year we’re headed south, where more and more people have been impoverished, more and more children are out of school. Things are going in the wrong direction.”
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to building what he described as “a Nigeria that is united and peaceful,” where citizens enjoy equal opportunities irrespective of ethnic or religious background.
