Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s capacity to lead Nigeria, arguing that the country needs a president with the energy and commitment to address its economic and security challenges.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, spoke in Abuja during the inauguration of the NDC National Campaign Council, where he called on Tinubu to leave office in 2027.

“Above all, President Tinubu does not have the energy and resolve required to lead Nigeria today, and he must go home.

“We need him to go home. Nigeria cannot be governed with the energy he has today. Nigeria needs a president who will be available and present”, he said.

He also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of worsening poverty, unemployment, corruption and insecurity.

The remarks come amid renewed debate over Tinubu’s health and physical capacity after the President announced that he would not attend every APC campaign rally ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

At the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council on October 14, Tinubu said he had accepted advice to limit his participation in campaign activities to avoid distractions from governance.

“You will excuse me from going everywhere with you. We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” the President said, stressing that governing the country required his attention.

Tinubu, however, maintained that he would continue to address Nigerians directly during the campaign.

The APC’s proposed campaign timetable subsequently indicated that the President would attend rallies in 12 states, with party officials coordinating activities in the remaining states.

The arrangement drew criticism from opposition figures and commentators questioning whether Tinubu should personally engage voters nationwide while seeking another term. The ruling party defended the decision as a way to balance governance with electioneering.

Obafemi George, a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s media and strategic communications committee, said there was no legal requirement for a presidential candidate to campaign physically in all 36 states.

Debate over Tinubu’s health also intensified after he returned to Nigeria on September 29 from an extended stay in Europe, following weeks of speculation during his absence.

The President dismissed the concerns, telling journalists: “Ready to kick, ready to walk. There’s nothing wrong.”

At the NDC event, Obi also criticised Tinubu for launching his re-election campaign without adequately accounting for government spending and achievements.

“Just last Friday, President Tinubu launched his second general campaign rather than explain to Nigerians what he has used the billions he borrowed to do.

“Rather than explain what he has achieved with the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets, he chose to blame the opposition for creating poverty”, he said.

Tinubu launched his re-election campaign in Kaduna on October 24, defending his administration’s economic reforms and blaming opposition politicians for the country’s poverty and hunger.

While the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign-exchange reforms have improved some public-finance indicators, the policies have also contributed to severe cost-of-living pressures, which remain a major political issue ahead of the election.

Obi said his proposed administration would prioritise practical solutions rather than blame.

“The purpose of governance is to solve problems, not to blame people. I will not blame anybody. We will create that new Nigeria that is possible,” he said.

He further identified corruption as a major obstacle to national development, promising a more aggressive campaign against it if elected.

“We need a revolution that will turn this country around, and we are committed to that. The APC-led government under President Tinubu has failed Nigeria,” Obi said.

To support his criticism, Obi cited Nigeria’s rankings on international terrorism and hunger indices, alongside poverty figures.

“There is no single indicator under Tinubu that has improved. When he came into office, our record on terrorism was better. Today, we are number four,”.

“When he came in, we were ranked 109th on the hunger list. Today, we are the 117th. When he came in, our poverty ranking was below 140. Today, we are above 140”, he said.

The inauguration was attended by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the party’s vice-presidential candidate; Seriake Dickson, its national leader; members of the National Working Committee and other party leaders.