In Osun State, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has accused opposition politicians of rehashing unfounded claims against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking to journalists in Osogbo on Sunday, Oyintiloye dismissed allegations that the United States had reopened a drug-trafficking case against the President as mere political propaganda.
Oyintiloye cautioned opposition figures against spreading falsehoods, emphasizing that no evidence exists of any U.S. court reopening or ordering a criminal retrial against Tinubu. He clarified that no American judge has declared the President guilty of drug trafficking and called on Nigerians to distinguish between allegations, investigations, and convictions.
“The debate centers on a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit seeking access to records held by U.S. law enforcement agencies,” he explained, stressing that “an FOIA case concerns access to government records, not a criminal trial or judicial ruling of guilt.”
The APC chieftain further noted that the presence of records held by agencies such as the FBI or the DEA does not amount to proof of criminality. Such investigative files may include unverified allegations, third-party information, or leads without establishing guilt. He also referenced FOIA Exemption 7(C), which protects sensitive law enforcement information from unwarranted invasion of privacy.
Oyintiloye urged Nigerians and the media to avoid “trial by document” and to consider the context and legal status of any information cited. He described the controversy as part of a recurring pattern of politically motivated allegations targeting Tinubu at critical junctures in his long political career.
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Highlighting past controversies, including debates over Tinubu’s academic credentials during his tenure as Lagos State Governor from 1999 to 2007, Oyintiloye said similar accusations resurfaced during the 2023 presidential campaign, distracting attention from governance.
He challenged opposition parties to present credible policy alternatives capable of improving Nigerians’ lives rather than engaging in personality attacks and calumny. “Privacy is not a crime. An investigation is not a conviction. A document is not automatically a fact simply because it carries a government seal,” he said.
Oyintiloye concluded by urging voters to judge political parties and candidates on their manifestos, ideas, and performance, calling on the opposition to focus on solutions instead of resorting to blackmail and recycled allegations.