Presidency Dismisses Obi's Call for Tinubu to Resign as Childish

The Nigerian Presidency has rejected Peter Obi's demand that President Bola Tinubu resign from office, describing the call as childish and politically motivated. Bayo Onanuga, the President's special adviser on information and strategy, issued the response on Monday, characterizing Obi's position as a distraction from governance.

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, had urged Tinubu to step down, citing deepening economic hardship, rising cost of living, and escalating security breaches including kidnappings and violent attacks across the country. Obi framed his demand by drawing a comparison to the recent resignation announcement made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The Presidency's statement disputed Obi's analogy between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, arguing that the comparison reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of Nigeria's constitutional structure. Onanuga emphasized that Nigeria operates under a presidential system where the president serves a fixed four-year term, unlike the parliamentary system in Britain where prime ministers can be removed through votes of no confidence.

The administration defended Tinubu's performance since May 2023, pointing to achievements in security, economic management, and infrastructure development. Onanuga also contrasted Obi's tenure as Anambra State governor with the administration's record, questioning Obi's credibility on governance matters.

The Presidency referenced recent electoral victories in Ekiti and other states as evidence of public support for the ruling All Progressives Congress.