By Paul Joseph
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has demanded greater transparency from the Presidency over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health and three-week European leave, while calling on him to resign and withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.
In a statement on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, urged the Presidency to provide Nigerians with official information on Tinubu’s health, itinerary, entourage and engagements during the trip.
The APM said the President’s extended absence had raised concerns at a time Nigeria is grappling with serious security and economic challenges, insisting that Nigerians deserve clarity on the circumstances surrounding the trip.
“There is nothing wrong in the Presidency clearing the air on the state of health of Mr. President as obtainable in other climes,” the party said.
The opposition party also questioned the timing of Tinubu’s vacation, arguing that Nigerians expected him to be “leading from the front” in addressing the challenges confronting the country.
The APM further linked its concerns to the ongoing controversy over records reportedly held by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concerning Tinubu, although it did not provide evidence to substantiate claims about the President’s health or establish criminal wrongdoing arising from the FBI matter.
The party also criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, accusing the government of worsening poverty, insecurity and the country’s debt burden.
It claimed that about 140 million Nigerians had been pushed below the poverty line, attributing the situation largely to policies including fuel subsidy removal and tax reforms.
On borrowing, the APM put Nigeria’s total debt at N159.28 trillion and alleged that some borrowed funds had been diverted by corrupt members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), although it did not provide evidence for the allegation.
The party also alleged that more than 628,000 Nigerians had been killed and 2.2 million abducted since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, claims that were not independently substantiated in the statement.
Against this backdrop, the APM urged Tinubu to use his vacation period to reflect on his administration’s performance and reconsider his reported ambition to seek re-election in 2027.
The party said Nigeria needed a younger and more energetic president capable of meeting the demands of contemporary leadership.
It consequently called on Tinubu to resign and support its preferred candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The APM said Makinde had demonstrated the leadership capacity required to transform Nigeria, pointing to what it described as improvements in Oyo State’s economic fortunes under his administration.
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