The Peter Obi Media Office has defended the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate’s call for President Bola Tinubu to consider resigning over worsening socio economic conditions, insisting the intervention was about accountability, not political point scoring.

In a statement by spokesman Idris Zekeri Jnr, the office said Obi’s remarks were inspired by the principle of responsible leadership and should not be viewed through a partisan lens. “Our principal’s comments were not about whether Nigeria operates a presidential or parliamentary system. They were about a fundamental principle of leadership: accepting responsibility for outcomes,” it said.

Responding to the Presidency, the office argued that resignation is not alien to presidential systems and cited examples of leaders stepping down. It noted that Tinubu, while in opposition, had criticized the Goodluck Jonathan administration and demanded accountability.

Addressing the economy, the office expressed concern over rising poverty, unemployment and inflation. “The true measure of economic success is not the performance of the stock market but the well-being of the average citizen,” it said, urging the government to tackle insecurity, poverty and power shortages rather than attack critics.