Groups fault Obi’s call for Tinubu’s resignation, cite constitutional process

File: Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Two civil society organisations, the Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative and the Democracy Watch Initiative, have criticised Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, over his call for President Bola Tinubu to resign, describing the demand as unconstitutional and inconsistent with democratic norms.

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the groups said leadership change in a constitutional democracy should be determined through elections and established democratic institutions rather than public pressure campaigns.

The statement, signed by GMI Director of Media, Emeka Wogu, and DWI Director of Strategic Communications, Tunji Bamidele, accused Obi of engaging in what they described as “social media grandstanding” and failing to acknowledge reforms being implemented by the current administration.

“We need to remind Mr. Obi that Nigeria operates under a constitutional presidential democracy, not a social media echo chamber or an internet debate.