The Presidency has strongly rejected calls by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign, describing the demand as misguided and based on what it termed a distorted assessment of Nigeria’s current realities.
In a statement issued on Monday, presidential officials argued that contrary to claims of national decline, the country has recorded measurable economic progress since the current administration assumed office in 2023.
The Presidency maintained that recent economic data points to improving government finances and growing revenue generation despite ongoing economic challenges affecting citizens.
According to the statement, the Federal Government generated more than ₦15.7 trillion in revenue as of May 2026, a figure officials say reflects the impact of ongoing fiscal and economic reforms.
The response follows criticisms from Peter Obi, who had questioned the state of the economy and governance under President Tinubu, arguing that worsening hardship and insecurity justified calls for a change in leadership.
However, the Presidency insisted that economic reforms introduced by the administration were beginning to produce results, citing improvements in revenue mobilisation, foreign exchange stability, and broader macroeconomic indicators.
Government officials acknowledged that many Nigerians continue to face economic hardship but argued that difficult reforms were necessary to address long-standing structural problems within the economy.
The administration further stated that judging the success of reforms requires a long-term perspective rather than focusing solely on short-term challenges.
The exchange highlights the growing political debate over the impact of President Tinubu’s economic policies as opposition figures continue to question the benefits of the reforms on ordinary Nigerians.
While supporters of the government point to improvements in fiscal performance and investor confidence, critics argue that inflation, rising living costs, and declining purchasing power remain major concerns for citizens.
Political analysts say the latest disagreement reflects the broader contest over public perception of the economy ahead of future political developments.
As discussions continue, economic performance is expected to remain one of the key issues shaping public discourse and political engagement across the country.