Obi says Tinubu lacks energy to govern, vows NDC will resist rigging in 2027

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said President Bola Tinubu does not have the energy or capacity to govern Nigeria, and that Nigerians are looking for a change in leadership.

Obi spoke on Monday at a dinner in Abuja where the party presented certificates of return to its candidates for the 2027 general elections, according to Punch.

He said the Tinubu administration had failed to deal with the country's problems, and that Nigerians were yearning for a change.

"He needs to go home," Obi said of the President.

He also said Nigerians need a President who will be available and present, arguing that the country cannot be governed with Tinubu's current energy.

Warning on rigging and harassment

Obi warned that the NDC would not allow the 2027 election to be manipulated, and called for a free, fair and credible process.

He also condemned what he described as the harassment of his party's supporters and other Nigerians, saying his preference for peaceful conduct should not be mistaken for weakness.

He said he would campaign in every state and every senatorial zone ahead of the election.

At the party's National Executive Committee meeting the same day, NDC national chairman Moses Cleopas warned members against anti-party activity, saying anyone who worked against the party's candidates would face sanctions under its constitution.

Cleopas said supporters of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket must also back NDC candidates for other positions, arguing that the party needs a strong presence in the National Assembly to govern effectively if it wins the presidency.

He said the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates would need the majority of the National Assembly to get the Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker of their choice.

Party finances and 'one-party state' warning

The party's national leader, Seriake Dickson, said the NDC was formed to stop Nigeria from becoming a one-party state under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He accused the APC of failing to deliver on its promises on security, corruption and the economy since it took power in 2015.

The party's National Treasurer, Dr Peter Onigah, said the NDC recorded revenue of ₦8.53bn within eight months of its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with ₦6.13bn left after spending ₦2.40bn.