A member of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s legal team in the United States, Wole Afolabi, SAN, has dismissed suggestions that records held by American law-enforcement agencies could determine the outcome of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
Afolabi said the ultimate decision would rest with Nigerian voters and the ability of political parties and their candidates to convince citizens that they deserve their support.
His position comes amid renewed political attention over US records connected to historical investigations involving Tinubu, an issue that has increasingly featured in the political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
The controversy has attracted interest from opposition politicians and political commentators, particularly as the election approaches and rival camps seek to scrutinise the background and records of the major contenders.
Afolabi, however, argued that the existence or eventual release of FBI documents should not be mistaken for a substitute for the democratic process.
According to him, Nigerians would ultimately assess the candidates, their programmes and their records before deciding who should lead the country.
The lawyer’s comments also come at a time when opposition figures are demanding greater transparency over the President’s past dealings and records in the United States.
Supporters of Tinubu have consistently argued that political opponents are attempting to turn historical allegations and documents into electoral weapons, while critics insist that Nigerians deserve full disclosure on any matter that could be relevant to a presidential candidate’s background.
The debate is therefore likely to continue as political parties intensify their campaigns and preparations for 2027.
Afolabi’s argument is that regardless of the controversy surrounding the FBI material, the decisive evidence in 2027 will be the ballot cast by Nigerians.
The 2027 presidential election is expected to feature a highly competitive contest involving the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition forces seeking to unseat Tinubu.