Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on President Bola Tinubu to step aside, saying the president no longer has the capacity to effectively address Nigeria's mounting challenges.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, the former Anambra State governor said Tinubu is not the same leader Nigerians knew during his tenure as governor of Lagos State, insisting that the country needs a more energetic and committed leadership.

Obi argued that Nigeria's worsening economic and security challenges require a president with the vision and strength to confront them, urging Tinubu to retire and allow a new generation of leaders to take over.

"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.

He further criticized the administration's performance, claiming the country is drifting under Tinubu's leadership.

"As it is right now, Bola Tinubu is leading us nowhere. We will turn it so he can see it. That's why maybe I'm calling for his retirement. The man should just step aside. Yes, he doesn't have the capacity to do the job," he added.

Turning to the state of the economy, Obi accused Nigeria's political class of focusing on the wrong priorities while millions of citizens grapple with poverty, hunger, and insecurity.

He cited recent projections by the World Bank, warning that the country's growing poverty rate should dominate public discourse ahead of the 2027 general election.

"The World Bank has just said that 79 percent of Nigerians are going to face poverty. In a country of 230 million people, that's over 180 million. That should be the issue we should be discussing," he said.

Obi also lamented the increasing number of out-of-school children, the poor state of healthcare, allegations of mismanaged public funds, and the worsening security situation, arguing that these are the issues deserving national attention.

"They should be talking about the issue of out-of-school children, talking about the issue of health, and all these monies that are missing here and there that would have been invested properly. Nobody is discussing it.

"This election in 2027 should be about issues that affect ordinary Nigerians. The World Food Programme has just said 35 million Nigerians are going to face hunger. Nigerians are being kidnapped. Let's talk about Nigeria," Obi said.