The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s legal opposition to the public release of records concerning him in the United States, describing the development as “profoundly embarrassing” to Nigeria.
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Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said in a statement on Monday that the controversy raised serious questions about transparency, accountability and the standards expected of occupants of Nigeria’s highest political office.
“It is profoundly embarrassing that we have reached a point where a sitting president is asking a foreign court to withhold records concerning his past, particularly records relating to matters of legitimate public interest,” Obi said.
He argued that leadership required the courage and humility to confront one’s history, acknowledge mistakes and provide honest explanations when questions arose.
According to him, the authority of a leader is strengthened when responsibility is accepted rather than when legal measures are employed to shield uncomfortable aspects of the past from public scrutiny.
“Leadership, in my humble view, demands the courage and humility to confront one’s history—to acknowledge mistakes, provide candid explanations where questions arise, and, where necessary, apologise and seek forgiveness,” he said.
“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 also renewed questions surrounding Tinubu’s educational history, arguing that issues concerning the President’s primary and secondary education should be addressed through clear and verifiable explanations rather than prolonged legal proceedings.
“This becomes particularly important when questions concern educational credentials. Issues surrounding foundational schooling—primary and secondary—should not remain unresolved or be addressed primarily through legal proceedings,” he said.
“Nigerians deserve clear, credible and verifiable explanations, especially when such had been submitted in the past.”
The NDC presidential candidate said his greatest concern was the example being set for more than 200 million Nigerians, including over 30 million young people in schools.
He maintained that the Presidency should represent integrity, transparency, accountability and ethical leadership.
Obi acknowledged that no individual had a perfect past but argued that what mattered was the willingness to confront previous actions honestly, apologise where necessary and make amends.
“When will our political class fully appreciate that individual ambitions are temporary, while the nation endures?” he asked.
“The Presidency is an office held for a season; the moral standards established by those who occupy it can influence generations. Nigeria is greater than any one person, and the integrity of the Republic must always come before the interests of the individual.”
Obi’s comments followed continuing litigation in the United States over Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by American transparency advocate Aaron Greenspan for records relating to Tinubu.
The case, filed at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, is being heard by Judge Beryl Howell.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has invoked several exemptions under the United States Freedom of Information Act in resisting the public disclosure of some of the requested information.
The agency argued that disclosure could reveal confidential sources and investigative techniques or endanger the lives and physical safety of individuals connected to the records.
In compliance with an August 20, 2026 order, the FBI reportedly hand-delivered sealed, ex parte declarations to the court on August 28 for private judicial review.
The development does not amount to the public release of the records. The sealed declarations are intended to enable the judge to assess whether the FBI’s reliance on the claimed exemptions is legally justified without disclosing sensitive information to Greenspan or the public.
Tinubu’s lawyers have also opposed the disclosure of records sought in the proceedings, citing privacy and other legal considerations.
The litigation relates to requests for documents concerning a purported United States investigation dating back to the early 1990s and a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding.
Tinubu has not been convicted of drug trafficking or money laundering in the United States. The current case is a civil Freedom of Information Act dispute over access to government records and not a criminal prosecution of the Nigerian President.
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