OPPOSITION LEADERS ACCUSE PRESIDENT TINUBU OF USING EFCC FOR POLITICAL PERSECUTION

Notable opposition leaders have accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as a weapon of political persecution. In a statement signed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders including David Mark, Bode George, and Peter Obi, the opposition leaders alleged that Tinubu is deploying state power to persecute perceived political adversaries. Raising alarm over what they called a threat against Nigeria’s multi-party democracy, they accused the Tinubu government of a plot to annihilate opposition. They therefore demanded an independent review body to examine public accounts of federal, state, and local governments from 2015 to 2025 and proposed embedding anti-graft operatives directly into government payment and expenditure processes at all levels.

The statement titled, “Anti-Corruption, Not Anti-Opposition: A Joint Statement by Opposition Leaders on the Growing Politicisation of State Institutions for Persecution of the Opposition,” reads: “We are compelled by duty to nation and conscience to issue this statement to alert our compatriots and the international community to the unfortunate and gradual slide of our country into a state where key national institutions – particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; The Nigeria Police; The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission are increasingly perceived as tools of political intimidation, selective justice and systematic persecution of opposition leaders.” They further stated, “Across our nation, there are mounting concerns that state power is being deployed not for prevention of economic crimes, but for persecution of perceived political adversaries, with the ultimate aim of weakening opposition voices and dismantling Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.”

Atiku Abubakar and the other leaders warned of a dangerous agenda unfolding, stating that more than ever before in Nigeria’s democratic experience, Nigerians have witnessed what many now describe as a covert, undemocratic agenda to ensure that all state governments fall under the control of the President’s party – not through transparent electoral contests, but by secretly intimidating opposition governors via the anti-corruption apparatus until they succumb and defect. They cited recent defections of opposition governors into the ruling party as reinforcing public suspicion that political pressure is driving this realignment. The opposition leaders accused the EFCC of a discernible pattern of persecution of the opposition with the sole objective of weakening same for the benefit of the ruling APC. They referenced a statement by former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole that “Once you have joined APC, all your sins are forgiven,” which they said has come to symbolise a troubling reality. They gave examples of ministers who resigned after scandals but have not been charged by the EFCC, highlighting selective enforcement. Atiku Abubakar emphasized that such selective enforcement undermines the legitimacy of anticorruption efforts and erodes public trust.

The leaders expressed concern over the erosion of EFCC’s independence and made several demands, including depoliticizing the EFCC, returning it to its statutory mandate, defending multiparty democracy, embedding preventive anti-corruption mechanisms, and establishing an independent review body. They proposed that the independent review body be chaired by an eminent judge and composed of representatives from civil society, professional bodies, security agencies, and political parties. They called on all patriotic Nigerians to stand firm in defence of democracy, quoting Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” They warned that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat and pledged to engage foreign partners, including the United States, UK, Canada, EU, World Bank, and United Nations, to express concern about the EFCC becoming a tool to weaken opposition. The statement was signed by Sen. David Mark, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Mallam Lawal Batagarawa, Chief Bode George, Mr. Peter Obi, and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.