Peter Obi, Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, has doubled down on his call for President Bola Tinubu to step aside.

“President Bola Tinubu is tired. He should be allowed to retire (sic) in peace and go home and rest. The Bola Tinubu that was governor (in Lagos) is not the one who is now president,” Mr Obi said in an interview aired on Channels TV on Sunday.

The politician, who claimed the country was heading in the wrong direction under Mr Tinubu, stated, “We’re heading in the wrong direction now. That’s why we need someone with the capacity to do the job. We need to do far more than we are doing now.”

Presidential spokespersons Bayo Onanuga and Daniel Bwala did not return a request seeking comment on Mr Obi’s claim.

After former UK prime minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation over unpopular policies, Mr Obi called on Mr Tinubu to emulate the embattled British leader and resign over monumental failure in governance. 

Mr Obi’s latest call for the president’s resignation also came after a former secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawal, claimed that Mr Tinubu was not healthy enough to run Nigeria, alleging that the president frequents France for medical treatment and can no longer do more in office because of his condition.