The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over efforts to restrict the release of records held by United States law-enforcement agencies concerning past investigations involving him.
Obi described the reported legal effort as embarrassing, arguing that a sitting Nigerian president should be prepared to confront questions about his past rather than seek to prevent the public from accessing records that could shed light on issues surrounding his history.
The former Anambra State governor made the remarks amid renewed attention to documents relating to historical investigations involving Tinubu in the United States.
The controversy has become an increasingly prominent issue in Nigeria’s political discourse ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition figures demanding greater transparency over records connected to the President.
Obi argued that Nigerians deserve to know the facts surrounding issues involving individuals seeking to occupy the highest political office in the country.
His criticism comes after legal proceedings in the United States concerning the release of records connected to Tinubu attracted fresh political attention.
According to reports, Obi questioned why a government that professes commitment to transparency would seek to prevent the disclosure of documents held by a foreign court or law-enforcement agency.
The NDC presidential candidate maintained that political leaders should be willing to subject themselves to scrutiny, particularly when questions concern their past and could influence voters’ assessment of their suitability for office.
The development is likely to further intensify the political debate between Tinubu’s supporters and opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election.
Tinubu’s camp has previously maintained that political opponents are attempting to weaponise historical allegations and foreign records for electoral purposes, while critics insist that transparency is necessary when questions concern a sitting president.
The dispute over the records is therefore expected to remain part of the broader political contest as the various presidential camps intensify their preparations for 2027.