The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, following a recent legal move by his lawyers in a United States federal court.
The opposition party based its call on proceedings involving efforts to prevent the release of documents that it claims could contain information concerning alleged drug-related matters involving the president.
According to Daily Trust, Yusuf Abubakar, the national spokesperson of the APM, made the demand in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, September 1.
APM Reacts to Tinubu’s Lawyers’ Court Move
The APM said Tinubu’s legal representatives appeared before the US District Court for the District of Columbia on August 28, 2026.
The party alleged that the lawyers asked the court to block a summary judgment that could compel the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release documents reportedly containing information about alleged narcotics-related issues involving Tinubu.
The APM interpreted the legal action as an indication of guilt rather than innocence.
The party said the “desperation exhibited by President Tinubu’s lawyers to stall the case and frustrate the release of vital evidence on the grounds that such disclosure would affect him personally is viewed by Nigerians and the global community as an admission of guilt.”
It argued that if Tinubu’s lawyers were certain of his innocence, they would have supported the release of the documents as an opportunity to clear his name rather than attempting to prevent their disclosure.
Party Cites Nigerian Constitution
The APM further argued that the legal team’s reliance on privacy concerns and possible political consequences in Nigeria suggested that the president was concerned about what the documents might reveal.
The party referenced Section 137(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution, which addresses eligibility for the presidency in cases involving certain criminal convictions, including offences involving dishonesty or fraud.
The APM also noted that Nigeria is a signatory to three major international treaties dealing with drugs and narcotic control.
APM Expresses Confidence in US Court
The opposition party said it trusted the US court to determine the matter based on the evidence presented before it.
As an example, the APM referred to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted by a US federal jury in Manhattan in March 2024 on drug-related charges.
The party argued that the case demonstrated that political influence does not place individuals beyond the reach of the American justice system.
The APM was quoted as saying:
“No individual, regardless of their political position, should be beyond the reach of the law, especially regarding drug-related issues of legitimate concern to the entire world.”
The party ultimately called on Tinubu to “spare the nation the pain, cost, and embarrassment of this situation by stepping down from the race.”
It also urged all individuals seeking the presidency in 2027 to be prepared for public scrutiny of their backgrounds and records.
