The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race over what it described as unresolved allegations arising from a drug-related case linked to him in the United States.

The party said that Tinubu’s reported legal challenge against the release of documents allegedly held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had heightened public interest in the matter.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Abubakar, APM expressed confidence that the United States judicial system would determine the case strictly on the basis of the law and available evidence.

The party alleged that Tinubu’s lawyers had approached the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on August 28, 2026, seeking to block a summary judgment and prevent the release of documents which APM claimed could be damaging to the President.

APM said the attempt to restrict disclosure of the documents raised questions about the President’s concerns over their possible contents and implications, particularly ahead of the 2027 election.

“If, indeed, President Tinubu’s lawyers were convinced of his innocence, they should have boldly used this case as an opportunity to help their client clear his name once and for all, rather than seeking to suppress evidence,” the party said.

It added that the invocation of privacy concerns and the possible impact of the documents on Nigerian politics showed the importance of resolving the controversy before the country goes to the polls.

The party further cited Section 137(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he is under a sentence of imprisonment or fine for an offence involving dishonesty or fraud.

APM, however, did not establish that Tinubu has been convicted of any such offence, but argued that the allegations and pending legal proceedings warranted full public scrutiny.

The party said Nigerians had a legitimate interest in the records of anyone seeking to occupy the highest political office in the country, particularly an incumbent President seeking another term.

“President Tinubu currently presides over the affairs of more than 200 million Nigerians. His past and present actions are, therefore, matters of legitimate public interest, particularly as the nation heads toward the 2027 presidential election,” it said.

APM insisted that political status should not place anyone beyond the reach of the law, urging the U.S. court to allow the facts and evidence to determine the matter.

The party cited the case of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted by a U.S. federal jury in Manhattan in March 2024 on drug-related charges, as evidence that political office should not shield public officials from accountability.

It said: “As a political party committed to democracy, justice, and the rule of law, our position is straightforward: let the facts be established, let the evidence be tested, and let justice take its course.”

APM consequently called on Tinubu to step aside from the 2027 contest, arguing that his withdrawal would save the country from what it described as unnecessary political embarrassment and controversy.

“We, therefore, counsel President Tinubu to spare the nation the pain, cost, and embarrassment of this situation by stepping down from the race,” the party said.

The opposition party also challenged other presidential aspirants to submit themselves to public scrutiny, saying candidates for the presidency must be prepared to answer questions concerning their past and present records.