The Presidency described Obi’s demand as “Childish"

Presidential aides, Bayo Onanuga, Dada Olusegun, and House of Representatives member, Philip Agbese, have separately dismissed calls for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation, made respectively by the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and the House Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi.

Obi had urged Tinubu to follow the example of Keir Starmer, who recently announced his resignation as UK Prime Minister. Concerns are reflected across critical sectors such as security, infrastructure, economy, transportation, and anti-corruption efforts, all of which have regressed. We are in the worst possible condition.” 

The Presidency described Obi’s demand as “childish,” “hollow” and an attempt to distract from the administration’s achievements in governance, security and the economy.

Nigeria operates a constitutional presidential system with a fixed four-year tenure designed to ensure institutional stability. while a prime minister in a parliamentary system is directly accountable to parliament and party structures, 

“More importantly, true political accountability must look beyond sensational headlines and face the hard economic realities inherited by the current administration,” he said.

According to Onanuga, recent electoral victories recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State and senatorial elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Ondo and Rivers states reflected continued public confidence in the President and his party.

Rejecting Obi’s assertion that every sector has collapsed and that the economy is in its worst condition, Olusegun urged him to account for the performance of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and other macroeconomic indicators.

He also cited projected 4.4 per cent economic growth for 2026, described as the highest in over a decade.

“How do you explain the unprecedented increase in profits of several companies that previously declared losses before the President was elected in 2023?

“How do you explain the significant increase in allocations to the three tiers of government?

“How do you explain the rise in daily oil production and foreign reserves?

“How do you explain the end of annual ASUU strikes and persistent fuel queues?” he asked.

Also, a parallel political disagreement emerged in the House of Representatives over similar calls for Tinubu’s resignation.

Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, had urged the President to either address the country’s worsening security and economic situation or step down from office.

However, another opposition lawmaker, Philip Agbese, rejected the position, describing it as politically motivated and unhelpful.

Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State under the Labour Party (LP) and serves as Deputy House Spokesperson, said the call was driven by political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections rather than genuine concern for Nigerians.

“The call for the resignation of President Tinubu is not borne out of patriotism. It appears to be part of a broader conspiracy by some political actors who are desperate to remove the President from office through every available means,” he said.