The Presidency has launched a scathing rebuttal to recent calls by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign over what Obi described as failures in governance, insecurity and economic management.

In a lengthy statement issued on Monday, Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Obi’s demand as “childish and hollow,” arguing that the comparison between Nigeria’s political system and the recent resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fundamentally flawed.

According to Onanuga, Obi’s position reflected “a selective and distorted view of Nigeria’s realities since 2023,” insisting that Nigeria’s presidential system differs significantly from Britain’s parliamentary model. He stated that President Tinubu was elected for a fixed four-year term and should ultimately be judged by Nigerians at the ballot box.

“Obi should wait until the presidential election to know what the people think of Tinubu’s government. Moving to use X to harangue the President out of office is off the mark and anti-democratic,” Onanuga said.

The presidential aide further pointed to recent electoral victories recorded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including outcomes in Ekiti State and several senatorial contests, as evidence that President Tinubu and his party continue to enjoy substantial public support.

Responding to Obi’s criticism of the administration’s handling of insecurity, Onanuga argued that the current security challenges predate Tinubu’s presidency and that the government has recorded measurable successes in combating terrorism, banditry and kidnapping. He claimed that thousands of terrorists had been neutralised while hundreds of kidnapped victims had been rescued through intensified military operations across different parts of the country.

“It is laughable that Obi, who, as governor, was a colossal failure, unable to secure lives and property in his small state of Anambra, as documented by his successor, Willie Obiano, is now the one calling for President Tinubu’s resignation over security breaches in some parts of the country,” he stated.

On the economy, Onanuga rejected Obi’s assertion that Nigeria was in its “worst possible condition,” maintaining that key economic indicators show improvement since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. He highlighted consistent GDP growth, rising foreign reserves, increased oil production, stronger government revenues and record performances on the Nigerian stock market as evidence that the administration’s reforms were yielding results.

“President Tinubu inherited what another successor of Peter Obi described as ‘a dead horse economy’. When he came on board in May 2023, President Tinubu introduced bold, courageous policies that his predecessors had shied away from,” Onanuga said.

He added that reforms in the oil and gas sector, increased investor confidence and infrastructure development projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway were laying the foundation for long-term economic growth.

The Presidency also defended Tinubu’s record in the education sector, pointing to the student loan scheme and the absence of prolonged strikes by university unions during the administration’s first three years in office.

Addressing claims that Tinubu had failed to fulfil campaign promises on electricity supply, Onanuga accused Obi and his supporters of misrepresenting the President’s remarks during the 2023 campaign. He argued that Tinubu’s administration had already taken significant steps to reform the power sector through the implementation of the Electricity Act, expansion of prepaid metering and investments in off-grid energy solutions.

“The first policy President Tinubu implemented upon taking office was to sign the Electricity Act, which enables states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently of the centralised grid system,” he said.

While acknowledging that Nigerians continue to grapple with high living costs, Onanuga attributed some of the economic pressures to global developments, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to international supply chains.

He insisted that Tinubu remained focused on implementing solutions rather than engaging in political rhetoric, arguing that the administration was making progress in stabilising the economy and improving governance.

“Leadership is about determination to confront the challenges facing our country and the economy. President Tinubu focuses on solutions, not rhetoric—investing in reforms, stabilising the economy, improving security, and laying the groundwork for a more prosperous Nigeria,” Onanuga stated.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign from office, arguing that the current administration has failed to deliver on key promises made to Nigerians and has presided over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and declining living standards.

Obi made the call in a statement released on Monday, in which he reflected on the resignation announcement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and drew comparisons between political accountability in advanced democracies and Nigeria’s governance culture.

The former Anambra State governor said he listened to Starmer’s resignation speech with keen interest, describing it as an example of leaders taking responsibility when public confidence wanes and campaign promises remain unfulfilled.

“This morning, I listened to the British Prime Minister’s speech announcing his planned resignation in July,” Obi said. “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.”

According to Obi, Starmer’s decision to step down followed growing public dissatisfaction over economic stagnation, rising living costs and what many viewed as unmet electoral promises.

Turning his attention to Nigeria, Obi recalled that before becoming president, Tinubu had repeatedly criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan over insecurity and economic challenges, including the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State.

“Before 2015, our President on several occasions championed the call for the then President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over economic hardship and insecurity affecting Nigerians,” Obi stated. “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.”

The former presidential candidate also referenced promises made by Tinubu during the 2023 election campaign, particularly commitments to improve electricity supply, tackle corruption, strengthen security and enhance the welfare of citizens.

“During the 2023 election campaign, 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—particularly in providing stable power, fighting corruption, and improving the welfare of Nigerians,” Obi said.

He argued that conditions across several sectors have deteriorated since Tinubu assumed office, insisting that Nigerians are facing increasing hardship despite expectations of improvement.

“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.

Obi further claimed that challenges affecting infrastructure, transportation and anti-corruption efforts have worsened, describing the country’s current situation as its lowest point in recent history.

“Similar concerns are reflected across other critical sectors such as security, infrastructure, transportation, and anti-corruption efforts, all of which have regressed. We are in the worst possible condition,” he added.

Based on his assessment of the administration’s performance, Obi called on the President to step aside, arguing that doing so would promote accountability and strengthen democratic institutions.

“I, therefore, join Nigerians of goodwill in calling for the resignation of the President over monumental failure in governance,” Obi declared.

He added that such a move would help establish a culture of responsibility in public service and demonstrate that elected officials can be held accountable for their performance.

“Such a gesture would help enthrone a political culture rooted in accountability and responsibility, rather than further entrenching impunity. It would also send a powerful message that public office is a sacred trust, not an entitlement, and help build a society in which future leaders understand that failure carries consequences.”

The statement is expected to intensify political debate over the performance of the Tinubu administration as opposition figures continue to scrutinize the government’s handling of economic reforms, inflation, insecurity and public welfare.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no immediate response from the Presidency to Obi’s call for the President’s resignation.

The remarks come amid increasing political discussions ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition leaders and civil society groups continuing to evaluate the impact of the administration’s policies on the economy and the daily lives of Nigerians.