The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to step aside before the 2027 general election, saying Nigeria requires a more energetic and capable leader to tackle its worsening economic hardship and security challenges.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi argued that Tinubu’s administration has failed to provide the leadership needed to address the country’s growing crises. He said the president no longer possesses the capacity required to govern effectively.

According to Obi, there is a stark contrast between Tinubu’s years as governor of Lagos State and his current performance as president.

“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,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor maintained that Nigeria was heading in the wrong direction under the current administration, insisting that the country needed a change in leadership.

“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,” he said.

Obi urged Nigerians to shift attention away from political calculations and focus on pressing national issues such as poverty, hunger, education and insecurity. Citing recent global projections, he said nearly 79 per cent of Nigerians could fall below the poverty line, while millions were also at risk of food insecurity.

Reacting to comments by United States President Donald Trump praising Tinubu’s efforts against insecurity, Obi acknowledged the commendation but insisted the government’s response remained inadequate.

“Thank you to Donald Trump. Thank you to President Trump. But we need to do more, far more than what we are doing,” he said.

“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.”

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised Nigeria’s political system, claiming that politicians accused of corruption often appear to be cleared of wrongdoing once they defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obi made the remark during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, where he also argued that Nigeria’s political parties lack clear ideologies.

According to him, the country’s politics has become driven by personal interests rather than principles.

“For me, there is no political party in Nigeria Today that has an ideology. There is none. Otherwise, the ideology of the APC would be that if you are corrupt and you move to the APC, you are no longer corrupt,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor maintained that what Nigeria needs are competent and committed leaders with integrity and compassion, rather than politicians who change parties for personal gain.

He also accused the ruling party of weakening opposition parties, alleging that the crises affecting the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and previously the Labour Party (LP) were not accidental.

“The president said it, and it is happening. When opposition parties are having problems, that is his wish. Because of it, they are destroying the judiciary,” Obi alleged.

He said that, if elected president, he would protect opposition parties and ensure they operate freely without interference from the government or regulatory agencies.

Obi also dismissed claims that endorsements from state governors would guarantee President Bola Tinubu victory in the 2027 presidential election.

He argued that governors’ support does not always reflect the views of the people in their states.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a faction of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Rivers State, led by its national Chairman, Ibe Kachikwu has aligned with the Rainbow Coalition formed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Nyesom Wike.

In a viral video, the ADC Secretary in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, Samuel Chuku was heard saying that they were instructed by their national leader to back Wike’s coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party leaders, at an engagement meeting in Isiokpo, the headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area, said they will work with the Rainbow Coalition for the coming elections.

The faction insisted that they remained the authentic leaders of the ADC in the council and would continue to align with the coalition pending the resolution of the leadership dispute by the Supreme Court.

They urged loyalists of the former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi to stop parading themselves as executive members of the party.

Samuel said, “Our leader, Ibe Kachikwu has directed ADC in Rivers to align with coalition led by Nyesom Wike. We are aware that some persons are parading themselves as ADC leaders in Ikwere local government.

“We are here to tell those people that they are intruders. They want to reap from where they did not sow.

“ADC leadership has directed that we should align with the coalition headed by Wike pending when the Supreme Court will decide who should be the authentic national”.

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