The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has rejected claims by Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that President Bola Tinubu is tired and should step aside ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda, who spoke during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, questioned the basis for describing the President as exhausted, insisting that Tinubu remains committed to his duties and continues to work towards delivering development projects across the country.
Responding to Obi’s comments, the APC chairman argued that the responsibilities of the presidency should not be compared to physical activities that require athletic endurance.
“Let me put it this way, especially to Obi, who claimed that Tinubu is tired — is he going for boxing or 400 metres? Are you telling me that the President who stays and works from morning till night is tired?” Yilwatda said.
He maintained that many Nigerians benefiting from government programmes and infrastructure projects would not support calls for the President to retire from office.
The APC chairman specifically mentioned the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying millions of students and families who have benefited from the initiative would appreciate the administration’s efforts rather than support calls for Tinubu’s resignation.
“Are you telling me that over a million students and mothers who depend heavily on and celebrate NELFUND would be praying that the President be retired?” he asked.
Yilwatda also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects as evidence that the administration remains focused on national development.
He cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and the development of seaports in Calabar, Akwa Ibom, Port Harcourt, Ondo, and Lagos as examples of initiatives aimed at improving transportation and economic growth.
According to him, Nigerians benefiting from these projects would not support the argument that President Tinubu lacks the energy or capacity to continue leading the country.
The APC chairman further pointed to ongoing improvements in Nigeria’s aviation sector, noting that airport modernization projects being carried out under the supervision of the Minister of Aviation demonstrate the government’s commitment to upgrading critical infrastructure.
He argued that investments in education, transportation, maritime development, and aviation show that the Tinubu administration remains active and focused on implementing its policies.
Yilwatda’s comments came after Peter Obi, during a recent interview on Channels Television, stated that President Tinubu was “tired” and no longer had the capacity to effectively lead Nigeria.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party platform, had suggested that the President should step aside and retire ahead of the 2027 election.
The exchange has further intensified political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties and political leaders already positioning themselves for the contest.
