The Presidency has rejected Mr Peter Obi’s call for the resignation of President Bola Tinubu, describing it as “misplaced” and rooted in what it called a selective reading of Nigeria’s political and economic developments since 2023.
The position was contained in a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, who argued that Obi’s comments did not reflect the country’s constitutional structure or ongoing governance realities.
Onanuga said Nigeria operates a presidential system of government, unlike the parliamentary system in the United Kingdom, insisting that calls for resignation outside constitutional provisions were inappropriate.
He maintained that President Tinubu, who was elected for a fixed four-year term, should be assessed by voters at the next general election rather than through what he described as social media agitation.
According to him, recent electoral victories recorded by the All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) in Ekiti, Nasarawa, Enugu, Ondo and Rivers states were evidence of continued public confidence in the administration.
“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,” he said.
On security, Onanuga said the administration inherited long-standing challenges but had recorded “measurable progress” through intensified military operations and expanded security investments.
He claimed that hundreds of kidnapped victims had been rescued and more than 15,000 terrorists neutralised through sustained nationwide operations, while new technologies, drones and a Special Adviser on Homeland Security had been deployed to strengthen internal security.
He also criticised Obi’s track record as former governor of Anambra State, accusing him of failing to adequately secure lives and property during his tenure.
“It is laughable that Obi, who, as governor, was a colossal failure… is now calling for President Tinubu’s resignation over security breaches in some parts of the country,” he said.
On the economy, Onanuga said Obi’s claim that Nigeria is in its worst condition ignores key macroeconomic indicators and international assessments of ongoing reforms.
He said the administration inherited what he termed a “dead horse economy” but had implemented reforms previously delayed by successive governments.
According to him, Nigeria has recorded positive GDP growth since 2023, alongside improved trade balances and rising foreign reserves.
He added that oil production has increased from below one million barrels per day to about 1.8 million barrels per day, while federation revenue is projected to exceed N30 trillion in 2026.
He further stated that N15.7 trillion had already been generated by May 2026—more than double the 2022 figure—adding that state governments were benefiting from increased allocations.
On the capital market, he said the All-Share Index had risen from about 50,000 points to over 250,000 points, describing it as evidence of investor confidence.
He also cited improvements in foreign direct investment inflows, particularly in the oil and gas sector, and said the naira had stabilised amid ongoing reforms.
On infrastructure, Onanuga highlighted projects including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway as evidence of the administration’s development agenda.
He added that the government had promoted compressed natural gas adoption, introduced interest-free student loans for nearly two million beneficiaries, and implemented reforms in the electricity sector through the Electricity Act.
While acknowledging cost-of-living pressures, he attributed some of the economic strain to global shocks, including geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions.
Onanuga concluded that Obi’s resignation call was politically motivated and disconnected from current realities, insisting that the administration remained focused on delivering its mandate.
“True leadership means staying the course, learning, adapting and delivering results,” he said, adding that President Tinubu “remains committed to reforms, stability and long-term national development.”