APC Dismisses Critics Over FBI File Release on Tinubu, Calls Opposition “Clowns”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed opposition parties and critics awaiting the release of FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) files related to President Bola Tinubu’s past, branding them “clowns” and accusing them of indulging in political melodrama.

This comes as a U.S. court recently ordered the FBI and DEA to release records linked to a decades-old drug trafficking investigation involving Tinubu in Chicago in the early 1990s. The files, long known to exist, are scheduled for public release by May 2.

Despite rising anticipation online and within political circles, the APC and the Presidency have maintained that the documents contain nothing new or damaging. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said government lawyers are reviewing the order but emphasized there are no surprises expected.

“These records have been in the public domain for over 30 years,” Onanuga noted. “There is no cause for alarm.”

Opposition parties, however, expressed a mix of hope, concern, and skepticism. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said the Nigerian public has waited for decades to see the full contents of the file, which was first raised in 1999 by legal icon Gani Fawehinmi.

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) offered a more tempered view. Its spokesman, Ladipo Johnson, urged restraint. “Let’s read the report before jumping to conclusions. It might not be as explosive as many are expecting.”

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a stronger position. Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor warned that if the report contains incriminating material, it could have constitutional consequences.

“A conviction would disqualify him from holding office,” Osadolor asserted. “This is a test of transparency and the moral obligation leaders owe the people.”

He added that the report should serve as a lesson in accountability, urging Nigerian institutions to take appropriate action if warranted by the contents.

In a sharp rebuttal, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru ridiculed the opposition’s reactions as politically motivated and unserious.

“Nigerian laws—not American documents—determine who is qualified to be president,” Basiru said. “Many of these opposition figures are clowns, still traumatized by their election loss. They’ll need psychiatrists.”

He dismissed any legal consequences stemming from the U.S. file release, adding that the Constitution remains the ultimate guide on eligibility for public office.

“If they want to challenge President Tinubu, they should prepare for 2027 and meet us at the ballot box,” Basiru concluded.

The controversy continues to stir debate on social media, with citizens divided between those demanding full transparency and others dismissing the matter as politically charged and outdated.