Fresh political exchanges Peter Obi vs Bola Tinubu back in the spotlight. Ali Modu Sheriff says the former Labour Party presidential candidate lacks the moral authority to ask the President to resign.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff has said Peter Obi does not have the moral ground to call on President Bola Tinubu to resign, according to political statements circulating on Monday. Sheriff, a political ally of Tinubu, alleged that Obi has not openly condemned the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, while urging stronger positions on national security.
According to comments attributed to Sheriff, anyone demanding the resignation of a sitting president should first make a clear public position on issues affecting Nigeria’s unity and security. He alleged that Obi had not consistently spoken against IPOB, a group that the Federal High Court proscribed in 2017. Sheriff did not cite specific recent statements from Obi to support his claims.
The remarks have generated debate on social media, where users resurfaced a 2017 Daily Post report quoting then APC National Leader Bola Tinubu as urging Nigerians not to condemn IPOB outright but to understand the grievances behind the agitation. The report, published on September 24, 2017, has since been widely shared by supporters of Peter Obi, who argue that Tinubu previously adopted a more conciliatory tone toward the group. Supporters of the ruling APC, however, backed Sheriff’s position and maintained that Obi should state his stance on IPOB more clearly.
IPOB remains a proscribed organisation in Nigeria following a Federal High Court order issued in 2017, while security agencies have continued to associate the group with violence in parts of the South East, according to official statements. Peter Obi has previously stated during campaign appearances and public engagements that he supports a united Nigeria and condemns all forms of violence. As of the time of filing this report, neither Obi nor the NDC Party had issued a fresh response to Sheriff’s latest comments.
The development means discussions around IPOB and national unity are likely to remain central to Nigeria’s political discourse ahead of the 2027 general elections. The renewed exchange also shows how past statements by leading political figures continue to shape current debates as supporters of both the APC and NDC Party defend their positions on governance, security and national cohesion.
