APM urges President to step down over contentious FBI files

The legal action instituted by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar against the eligibility of President Bola Tinubu’s participation in the 2027 election will have to wait till September 28, 2026, following the inability of Atiku to serve court process on Tinubu as required by law.

Also, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) urged Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race over unresolved allegations arising from a drug-related case in the United States linked to him.

At the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, the former Vice President, through his counsel, Joseph Onu Silas, lamented that he had not been able to reach Tinubu for personal delivery of an originating summons on him in line with the provisions of the law.

He told Justice Inyang Ekwo that he needed an order of the court for a substituted service for the suit to formally proceed without obstacles.

Drama, however, erupted when a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Omosanya Popoola, who stood for President Tinubu, announced his decision to accept court process on behalf of his client.

Popoola urged Justice Ekwo to order Atiku’s lawyer to make the court process available to him in the open court for delivery to Tinubu.

Rather than complying, Atiku’s lawyer insisted that Popoola must make a written undertaking that he has the mandate of Tinubu to represent him before he would deliver the court process to him.

At this point, the judge, in a bid to resolve the logjam, resolved to adjourn the matter to enable Atiku to put his house in order.

An attempt by Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN) to convince the Court to order the service of court process on Tinubu through his lawyer for proceedings to continue did not yield fruitful results.

In the end, Justice Ekwo shifted further mention in the case till September 28.
APM said 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) heightened public interest in the matter.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Abubakar, APM expressed confidence that the United States (U.S.) judicial system would determine the case strictly based on 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 implicate 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 consequently called on Tinubu to step aside from the 2027 contest, arguing that his withdrawal would save the country unnecessary political embarrassment and controversy.