Party chairman insists President remains fit, active and enjoys widespread support despite opposition criticism.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed calls by former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for President Bola Tinubu to step aside ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that the President remains physically fit, actively engaged in governance and enjoys the support of many Nigerians.
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, made the remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday while responding to Obi’s comments that President Tinubu was too tired to continue in office.
“Is he going for boxing or the 100 metres?” Yilwatda asked. “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.”
He maintained that the President remains committed to his responsibilities despite the demands of office.
Yilwatda’s comments followed an interview in which Obi urged President Tinubu to retire before the next presidential election, arguing that Nigeria requires energetic leadership capable of addressing worsening 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,” Obi had said.
The former Anambra State governor insisted that the 2027 election should centre on issues affecting ordinary Nigerians rather than political personalities. He cited rising poverty, food insecurity, the growing number of out-of-school children and persistent insecurity across parts of the country as key concerns.
Obi also pledged a more hands-on approach to governance if elected president, stressing that his ambition is driven by a desire to see Nigeria work.
Responding, Yilwatda argued that several policies introduced by the Tinubu administration have earned public support, particularly the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said has expanded access to higher education for millions of students.
“You mean the millions of students receiving loans and celebrating them every day on social media, together with their parents who are hoping their children will access higher education through NELFUND, want the President to retire?” he queried.
The APC chairman also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, improvements to the nation’s ports and the expansion of gas pipeline infrastructure, as evidence of the administration’s developmental agenda.
He further noted that farmers in northern Nigeria were benefiting from government interventions aimed at improving access to fertilisers.
While acknowledging the country’s economic and security challenges, Yilwatda maintained that many of the problems predate the Tinubu administration and said the government is making steady progress in addressing them.
He expressed confidence that President Tinubu’s performance in office would continue to attract public support ahead of the 2027 general election.