The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking to withhold records concerning his past in an ongoing case before a United States federal court .
Obi raised the issue in a statement posted on Sunday, August 30, in which he argued that public officials should confront questions about their past openly and provide Nigerians with credible explanations where legitimate concerns arise .
According to Obi, it is “profoundly embarrassing” that a sitting Nigerian President is asking a foreign court to withhold records concerning his past, particularly where the records relate to matters he described as being of legitimate public interest .
He said leadership requires “the courage and humility to confront one’s history,” including acknowledging mistakes, explaining controversial issues and, where necessary, apologising and seeking forgiveness .
“True authority is strengthened, not diminished, when a leader accepts responsibility rather than seeks to shield uncomfortable aspects of the past from legitimate scrutiny,” Obi said .
Educational Credentials Under Scrutiny
The NDC presidential candidate also raised questions concerning Tinubu’s educational history, arguing that issues surrounding a political leader’s primary and secondary education should be addressed through clear and verifiable explanations rather than primarily through legal proceedings .
“Educational credentials are particularly important,” Obi said, adding that Nigerians deserve “clear, credible and verifiable explanations” where questions have previously been raised about information submitted by public officials .
‘The Example We Set for Young Nigerians’
Obi said his concern extended beyond the President personally to the wider implications for Nigerian society .
He pointed to Nigeria’s young population, particularly students, arguing that the country’s highest office should exemplify integrity, accountability, transparency and ethical leadership .
“My deepest concern is the example this sets for more than 200 million Nigerians, particularly the over 30 million young people in schools,” he said .
Obi maintained that having an imperfect past was part of the human condition, but argued that public leaders should be willing to confront their histories with honesty and humility .
He said leaders should make amends where necessary and place national interests above personal political ambitions .
‘Nigeria Is Greater Than Any One Person’
Obi also used the statement to criticise what he described as the tendency of political leaders to place individual ambitions above the long-term interests of the country .
He asked when Nigeria’s political class would fully appreciate that political ambitions are temporary while the nation endures .
“The Presidency is an office held for a season; the moral standards established by those who occupy it can influence generations,” Obi said .
He concluded by arguing that the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions should take precedence over the interests of individuals.
“Nigeria is greater than any one person, and the integrity of the Republic must always come before the interests of the individual,” he said .
Obi signed off the statement with his familiar political message: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
Background of the Case
The statement comes as litigation continues in the United States over requests for the release of government records relating to Tinubu . The dispute involves Freedom of Information Act requests seeking records from US agencies, including the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration .
In April 2025, US District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the FBI and DEA’s earlier refusal to confirm or deny whether they had records relating to Tinubu was improper, ordering the agencies to search for and process non-exempt records . Thousands of documents have since been produced, some with redactions .
The existence, scope and legal status of records that remain withheld are matters for the US court and relevant agencies to determine. Claims concerning what such records may contain should therefore not be treated as established facts unless supported by documents or findings from the appropriate authorities .
