The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step aside ahead of the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the President remains healthy, fully engaged in governance and capable of seeking another term.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda pushed back against Obi’s claim that Tinubu was too tired to continue leading the country. He said the President maintains a demanding work schedule and remains committed to his responsibilities.
“Is he going for boxing or the 100 metres?” Yilwatda said. “President Tinubu is in the office every day. I was with him last Thursday. He was there in the morning and left late at night. That is someone who works from morning till night.”
His remarks followed comments by Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate and former Anambra State governor, who argued during a television interview that Tinubu should retire instead of seeking another term in office.
“The Bola Tinubu that was governor is not the one that is president today. He’s tired. He should be allowed to retire in peace and then go home,” Obi said, adding that Nigeria needs energetic leadership to tackle worsening economic hardship, insecurity, poverty and hunger.
Obi maintained that the 2027 election should centre on solutions to the country’s pressing challenges rather than personalities. He also pledged that, if elected, he would take a more hands-on approach to governance, particularly in addressing insecurity and improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Responding to suggestions that voters may choose to retire the President at the polls, Yilwatda argued that several flagship programmes introduced by the Tinubu administration have earned widespread public support. He highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying millions of students and their families have benefited from the initiative.
The APC chairman also pointed to major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, ongoing upgrades to Nigeria’s seaports, expansion of gas pipeline infrastructure and agricultural interventions aimed at improving access to fertilisers for farmers, especially in northern Nigeria.
While acknowledging the country’s economic and security challenges, Yilwatda said many of the issues were inherited from previous administrations. He insisted the Tinubu government is making steady progress through reforms and development projects designed to improve the country’s long-term outlook.
