Presidential Candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to emulate British Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, by resigning.
Obi said the President has failed to deliver on the majority of his campaign promises, particularly regarding improving the living standards of Nigerian citizens.
Earlier on Monday, Starmer announced that he would resign as leader of the Labour Party, paving the way for a new prime minister to take office before Parliament reconvenes in September.
Starmer said he had accepted his party’s verdict on his leadership and would step aside after concluding that he was no longer the best person to lead Labour into the next general election.
Reacting to the development, Obi released a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) handle titled “Owning Up to Leadership Failures and Political Responsibility”.
He urged President Tinubu to emulate the British leader’s accountability to save Nigeria from its worsening economic situation.
The NDC presidential flag-bearer wrote: “This morning, I listened to the British Prime Minister’s speech announcing his planned resignation in July. As a keen observer of global politics, my primary interest lies in examining what successful nations do right and the structural factors that cause others to lag or struggle with governance and development.
“The Prime Minister’s planned resignation comes amid mounting public frustration over a stagnant economy, a worsening cost-of-living crisis, and a perceived failure to honor key campaign pledges.”
Looking inward at Nigeria’s political history, Obi reminded citizens that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had previously set a precedent for demanding accountability from sitting leaders.
Obi noted, “Before 2015, our President on several occasions championed the call for then-President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over economic hardship and insecurity affecting Nigerians.
“During the Chibok school kidnapping incident, he demanded the immediate resignation of President Jonathan, arguing that the government had failed in its most fundamental duty of protecting lives.”
He further pointed out that during the 2023 election campaign, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made explicit commitments to the electorate including promising a vastly improved power supply across the nation, pledging a decisive fight against systemic corruption and explicitly challenging Nigerians not to vote him in for a second term if he failed to deliver on basic welfare.
Obi argued that rather than seeing improvement, the country’s critical sectors have severely regressed since the current administration took power.
He emphasized that public office must carry consequences for non-performance.
He added, “I, therefore, join Nigerians of goodwill in calling for the resignation of the President over monumental failure in governance. Such a gesture would help enthrone a political culture rooted in accountability and responsibility, rather than further entrenching impunity.
“It would also send a powerful message that public office is a sacred trust, not an entitlement, and help build a society in which future leaders understand that failure carries consequences. Only by ending the culture of impunity can we secure a better future for the society our children will inherit in a New Nigeria that is possible.”