The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has questioned why President Bola Tinubu is seeking to withhold records concerning his past from a foreign court, saying Nigerians deserve answers on matters of public interest.
Obi raised the issue in a statement posted on his official social media page on Monday, August 31, 2026, where he expressed concern over the reported legal move and issues surrounding the President’s educational records.
The presidential candidate said a sitting President should have the courage to confront questions about his past rather than prevent such records from being subjected to legitimate scrutiny.
“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 questioned why issues concerning foundational education, including primary and secondary schooling, should remain unresolved or be dealt with mainly through legal proceedings.
Obi said Nigerians deserve “clear, credible, and verifiable explanations” on such matters, particularly where educational records had previously been submitted.
He also raised concerns about the example such controversies could set for young Nigerians, saying the Presidency should represent integrity, accountability and transparency.
“The nation’s highest office should exemplify integrity, accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership,” he said.
“Nigeria is greater than any one person, and the integrity of the Republic must always come before the interests of the individual,” he added.