A Direct Political Challenge
Opposition politics took a sharper turn on Friday after African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should resign rather than remain in office until the 2027 general election.
Making one of his strongest public criticisms of the current administration, Okonkwo argued that the country should not continue on its present course, insisting that leadership must ultimately be judged by its ability to protect lives and inspire public confidence.
For the opposition politician, the question is no longer whether the President should seek another mandate—it is whether Nigerians should be asked to return to the polls under the same leadership.
Why He Says the President Should Leave Office
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Okonkwo based his position largely on the security situation across the country.
According to him, recurring attacks, kidnappings and violent crimes have become too frequent to dismiss as isolated incidents, arguing that insecurity has become one of the defining challenges facing the administration.
He referenced reports of killings in Plateau and Benue states, as well as violent attacks in Oyo State, maintaining that governments should be judged not only by how they respond to tragedies but by how effectively they prevent them.
In his view, preventing the loss of lives remains a more meaningful measure of leadership than reacting after attacks have already occurred.
The Personal Experience That Strengthened His Argument
To explain why he believes the security crisis has become deeply personal for many Nigerians, Okonkwo recounted the experience of a member of his staff whose mother, he said, was abducted in Kaduna State.
According to him, the kidnappers demanded a ransom beyond what the family could afford. When the money was not produced, he alleged that the victim suffered serious physical injuries.
For Okonkwo, stories like these rarely receive national attention, yet they represent the daily realities confronting many families across the country and reinforce his belief that insecurity remains an urgent governance issue.
His Final Position
Drawing together his criticism, Okonkwo argued that President Tinubu should not wait for the next election before leaving office.
“Tinubu should not even allow the election to hold; he should resign and go in peace.”
During the interview, he also criticised the wider political climate while discussing the Federal High Court judgment that overturned the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He claimed that recent political developments were making it increasingly difficult for opposition parties to compete on equal terms. Those remarks represent his personal political assessment during the interview.
How the Debate Extends Beyond One Interview
Okonkwo’s comments add to a series of increasingly outspoken exchanges between opposition politicians and the Tinubu administration as political conversations gradually shift towards 2027.
Security, governance, judicial decisions and electoral competition are emerging as recurring themes in those debates, with both the government and opposition continuing to present sharply different assessments of the country’s direction.
Whether his call gains wider political support remains uncertain. However, it reflects the intensity of the arguments that are likely to shape opposition campaigns and public discourse as preparations for the next general election continue.
