The 2027 political contest has gained fresh attention after Peter Obi criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The former presidential candidate said Nigeria has recorded more hardship under the current government and urged the president to leave office after the next election.
ABUJA, FCT — Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has urged President Bola Tinubu to leave office after the 2027 general election, arguing that the country has experienced worsening poverty and insecurity under the current administration. Obi made the remarks while speaking at a public event, according to videos and reports circulating on Wednesday.
Obi claimed that the number of Nigerians living in poverty has increased since Tinubu assumed office. He also alleged that insecurity has worsened during the administration and questioned the government’s Renewed Hope agenda. His comments reflected growing political criticism as parties and stakeholders begin positioning ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during the event, Obi said, “Tinubu is tired and needs to go home and rest. When Tinubu came into power, 87 million Nigerians were in poverty but today it is 140 million.” He also said, “Insecurity has gotten worse. Which hope are they going to renew again? You can’t renew failure.” Obi added that he was not desperate to become Nigeria’s president, saying leadership should depend on performance and accountability. He further claimed that many business owners have struggled since the current administration took office.
President Tinubu’s administration has repeatedly maintained that it inherited deep economic and security challenges and has introduced reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, improving public finances and attracting investment. Government officials have also defended policies such as the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms, arguing that they are necessary for long-term economic recovery. The presidency has continued to express confidence that the reforms will produce positive results over time.
The development means political campaigns and public scrutiny of government policies are likely to intensify as the 2027 general election approaches. Analysts expect both the ruling party and opposition figures to continue presenting competing records on the economy, security and governance, while voters assess the claims made by all sides ahead of the election.
