RismadarVoice Reporters, September 1, 2026
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, and the National Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, have criticised President Bola Tinubu over alleged efforts to prevent the release of records concerning his past by authorities in the United States.
While Obi described the development as embarrassing and called for transparency, Baba-Ahmed questioned the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from Nigeria.
Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Monday at the first national summit of opposition political parties held in Abuja.
He alleged that Tinubu’s recent overseas trip was linked to efforts to prevent the possible release of documents relating to the President by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The PRP chairman also questioned who was overseeing the affairs of the country while both the President and his deputy were outside Nigeria.
“Who is in charge now?” Baba-Ahmed asked, describing the simultaneous absence of the two highest-ranking officials as unprecedented in the country’s history.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, expressed concern over what he described as an attempt by a sitting president to restrict access to records concerning his past.
In a statement posted on his X account, Obi said Nigerians deserved straightforward and verifiable answers to questions surrounding the President’s background.
He said leadership required the courage to confront past controversies rather than resort to legal measures to shield potentially embarrassing information from public scrutiny.
According to Obi, leaders should be willing to acknowledge mistakes, provide explanations where necessary and accept responsibility for their actions.
He said the issue was particularly important where questions relating to educational qualifications were concerned, arguing that matters concerning a leader’s primary and secondary education should not remain unresolved.
Obi said Nigerians were entitled to credible explanations, especially where information had previously been presented to the public.
He further warned that the controversy could send the wrong message to millions of Nigerians, particularly young people still in school.
According to him, the presidency should demonstrate transparency, accountability, integrity and ethical leadership.
Obi maintained that having a controversial past was not necessarily the problem, arguing that what mattered was the willingness of leaders to confront such issues honestly, make amends where appropriate and put national interest ahead of personal political ambitions.
He questioned when Nigeria’s political class would recognise that political ambitions are temporary, while the country and its people endure.
