The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Tinubu to step aside before the 2027 general election, insisting that the President remains capable of leading the country and delivering on his responsibilities.
APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, made the party’s position known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Tuesday, dismissing claims that Tinubu lacks the energy to continue in office.
Yilwatda questioned the basis of Obi’s argument, saying the President remains actively involved in governance and works long hours.
“Is he going for boxing or the 100 metres? President Tinubu is in the office every day, ” he said.
He added that Tinubu’s demanding schedule showed his commitment to the country, noting that he had personally seen the President working from morning until late at night.
The reaction followed comments by Obi, the former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential candidate of NDC, who argued that Tinubu should retire and allow Nigerians to choose a new direction.
Obi said the President he knew as Lagos governor was different from the person currently leading the country, adding that Nigeria needed a leader with the energy to tackle economic hardship, insecurity, poverty and hunger.
“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, ” he said.
Obi said the 2027 election should focus on solving the challenges facing ordinary Nigerians, including food insecurity, unemployment, rising poverty and insecurity.
Responding to criticism of the administration, the APC chairman highlighted government programmes and projects he said had improved lives, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), infrastructure projects and support for farmers.
Yilwatda argued that millions of students and families benefiting from NELFUND would support the continuation of the current administration’s policies.
He acknowledged that Nigeria still faces economic and security challenges but maintained that many of the problems existed before Tinubu assumed office, insisting that the government was making progress in addressing them.
With the 2027 election approaching, the exchange between the APC and Obi signals an increasingly intense political debate over leadership, performance and the future direction of Nigeria.
