By Francis Ugwu
Africa-Press – Nigeria. The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has vowed not to remain silent as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, allegedly targets prominent opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The outcry follows Monday’s arrest and grilling of former Sokoto State Governor and serving Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals totalling N189 billion.
Tambuwal, a key member of the opposition coalition, governed Sokoto State from 2015 to 2023.
DAILY POST reports that the controversy has reignited debate about the independence of Nigeria’s anti-corruption bodies.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, accusations of political interference in the EFCC’s operations are likely to intensify.
EFCC becoming APC’s political tool – ADC
Reacting to Tambuwal’s arrest, the ADC accused the EFCC of conducting selective investigations aimed at intimidating opposition politicians.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party claimed that several recent EFCC summons to senior coalition members were politically motivated, reopening old cases without new evidence.
It further alleged that probes into certain ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, members were quietly dropped after the individuals defected to the ruling party.
“The EFCC was created to be a fearless defender of the Nigerian people’s trust, applying the law evenly to all—friend or foe, ruling party or opposition.
“Today, that vision appears compromised. The Commission now operates like a department of the APC, deployed to fight critics and opposition figures, achieving what the government cannot achieve through public debate,” part of the statement read.
The ADC urged Nigerians, civil society groups, and the media to demand institutional independence, warning that allowing partisan influence over anti-graft agencies could cripple democracy.
In another statement on Tuesday, the party alleged that recent EFCC actions against former Senate President David Mark, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha were politically motivated.
The ADC said EFCC correspondence now circulating online showed that the Commission had requested Imo State Government officials to urgently provide information relating to Ihedioha’s seven-month tenure as governor from May 29, 2019, to January 14, 2020.
The party also claimed that the EFCC had begun reviewing records from Mark’s tenure as Senate President between 2007 and 2015.
Atiku: Detention of Tambuwal politically motivated
On his part, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said Tambuwal’s detention was part of a wider plot by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 polls.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Atiku accused the government of weaponizing the fight against corruption to coerce political leaders into joining the APC.
“It is as though anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations, and as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Bola Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven. That is not how to build institutions, nor how to fight corruption. Such tendencies only fuel it,” Atiku wrote.
The former VP, who played a key role in establishing the EFCC during his tenure, condemned its alleged partisan deployment, warning it could lead to a one-party dictatorship.
He called on Nigerians, civil society, and the international community to resist the politicization of anti-graft institutions.
“We have witnessed the use of anti-corruption agencies to pressure political leaders into the ruling party. Our assurance to Nigerians is that we will never succumb to these anti-democratic machinations,” he added.
Tinubu, APC of using state institutions to coerce opposition politicians – Ibe
Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accused President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deploying state institutions to intimidate, harass and coerce opposition politicians into joining the ruling party.
Speaking in an interview with DAILY POST on Tuesday, Ibe said recent actions by the government and the EFCC were aimed at railroading political leaders into the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the recent arrest of former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, is part of a larger plot to weaken the opposition.
He said the administration’s goal was to manipulate the electoral process and establish a one-party system.
“We are living witnesses to what has been playing out. It’s very clear the institutions of state are being used to coerce politicians and leaders into the APC. They are being railroaded, they are being coerced.
“It didn’t start with Tambuwal and it won’t end with him. It’s all because Tinubu and the APC are focused on manipulating the electoral process. That’s what it is.
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar has sounded the alert that the opposition and the ADC coalition will not give in to their antics and machinations,” he alleged.
Ibe maintained that Atiku and other coalition leaders under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would continue to mobilise Nigerians to resist what he called the “satanic agenda” of the Tinubu administration.
He further accused the government of undermining the rule of law, freedom of association and freedom of speech, describing the current situation as worse than military rule.
“We have a president who has blown full circle into a civilian dictatorship, worse than even a military dictatorship. Even the rule of law is being undermined. Freedom of association and freedom of speech has been thrown overboard.
“These are very dire times for Nigeria. I speak about the battle to save our democracy. And the second one is the battle for good governance. One is to be taken on the other, without a democratic culture, without a deal of democracy, the ability to deliver good governance is heavily compromised.
“And so that is why it is important that Nigerians need to reclaim their country with a view to rebuilding it so that the country can serve our interests,” Ibe stated.
The aide further dismissed claims that the ADC was a regional or sectional party, stressing that it is a national platform drawing support from all parts of the country.
“Who are those making these allegations? People from the APC. Is that not ironic? Tinubu and the APC have continued to play politics of divide and rule. They continue to play the politics of religion and tribe. This was a party that benefited from the votes of the North, and had more votes from the north than any other region of the country.
“So what is all this hues and cries about the ADC? ADC is not a party of the North, of the south, of the East, of the West. It’s not a party of Muslims, of Christians, not a party of the rich or the poor, not a party of women or men. It’s a party of Nigeria.
“It’s a platform that Nigerians have decided to rally around in order to give them a viable opportunity to be able to oust the incompetent Tinubu’s administration.
“So it’s ridiculous for them to be talking about the North. No, the strength of the ADC is the entirety of Nigeria, and not from one section of the country. You can see from the diversity of the leadership, those who are handling the process.
“And at the end of the day, the outcome of the 2027 election will clearly show that the ADC is not a party that is limited to a section of the country,” he added.
Tinubu govt out to destroy democracy – Tanko, Obidient Movement Leader
Also speaking, the Interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, accused Tinubu’s administration of being “very vicious” and working to destroy Nigeria’s democracy.
In an interview with DAILY POST on Tuesday, Tanko, who is also a former spokesman and media director of the defunct Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, warned that the opposition should prepare for more attacks from the government.
“This particular government is very vicious, and I want to prepare the minds of some of us in the opposition, at least one out of so many things that will be unleashed on the opposition.
“The truth about this is that anybody that joined the APC is seen as a changed person, while those who are against the APC government are seen to be a criminal.
“Meanwhile, they indulge in total criminality against the people. And so this will be one out of so many. I am not even sure that some of us will not be attacked pretty soon. But it’s totally undemocratic what they are doing.
“They have also made it clear that they are out to destroy democracy. This government is out to destroy democracy. But they should be on notice that the Nigerian people are watching. The international community is also watching,” he said.
Tanko alleged that the administration was undermining the constitution and the United Nations Charter, suppressing the voice and rights of the people.
“So we call on everybody to take notice that the opposition in government at the moment is trying to undermine democracy in totality, destroying the fabric of society. The international community should take a quick stand before things just reach an uncontrolled level.
“The voice of the people is being held down. The action and the abilities of the people are being completely denied. The right for freedom completely as enshrined in Chapter 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as encapsulated by the United Nations Charter, is being undermined,” he said.
He vowed that the opposition will continue to resist such moves.
“We in the opposition will totally reject this as totally unacceptable to us, and we will continue to speak truth to power and will also continue to perform our duties, ask for permission, which is part of democracy.
“We cannot be cowed on a continuous basis because you belong to a group which you have a constitutional right to do,” Tanko stated.
He emphasised the need to strengthen political structures at the grassroots.
“The most important thing is for us to build our structure down to the grassroots, making sure the people at the grassroots are fully represented. What we mean is let us have all of the structures in every nook and cranny of this country.
“If you see, the ‘Obidients’ movement is not only secluded now to social media. We are now putting boots on the ground – that is the most important thing at the level of preparation.
“Once the people are already fully informed of the activity, then we can be able to take further actions. First thing first, which is building the structures in every ward and local government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
On the issue of corruption, Tanko maintained that the opposition will not shield wrongdoers in its ranks but demanded fairness.
“We have never condoned any kind of corrupt tendency in our side. So we are not going to use deodorant on our people and then deal with other persons with insecticide. We are asking that fairness should be meant to everybody.
“A case in study is the lady that was thrown out of the airline. Of course, she had done a lot of wrong by not adhering to the directive of the flight rules. But we have another person who stood in front of the aircraft endangering a number of people.
“That particular person has not been arrested or put into detention. So you can see the kind of selective justice that this particular government is doing,” Tanko said.
He also accused the government of shielding corrupt allies while targeting members of the opposition coalition.
“We have on record some of the people that they’ve already accommodated have issues of financial or criminal charges against them.
“Why has the EFCC not arrested these particular persons or called them for interrogation? And now some of the key individuals in the coalition are being invited to come and answer to some query which has been on for a very long time.
“So you can see, it’s selective justice. But we will, of course, mobilize our people to deal with the issue, and when they are found wanting, everybody is expected to answer the query of whatever you have done wrong,” he said.
EFCC’s credibility questionable – Analyst
Meanwhile, a Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, alleged that the arrest of former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is politically motivated.
Speaking in an interview with DAILY POST on Tuesday, Odo said the EFCC, though founded with good intentions, has allowed political interference to undermine its credibility.
“I believe that EFCC was founded with great intentions. Financial crimes are hindering Nigerians from having the standard of living.
“That said, we need to see the fight against financial crimes be fought in good faith. Their core objective is no questions.
“However, questions arise from their mode of operation. We have seen too many politically motivated fights against corruption to make people doubt the sincerity of the commission,” he said.
Odo also questioned the timing of Tambuwal’s arrest.
According to him, Nigerian politics often involves exploiting political opponents’ weaknesses.
“Why are they now arresting Aminu Tambuwal? Did he leave the office today?
“Every sensible Nigerian will relate this arrest to Tambuwal’s move to the ADC. The formation of a credible and formidable opposition coalition is a nightmare to a ruling party. The president is not oblivious to this.
“He knows what he achieved with the coalition that formed APC. The PDP lost out. If the then PDP government employed every means and scuttled the formation of APC, the story would’ve been different.
“He understands the game; and it seems he wouldn’t want to lose no matter what,” Odo said.
“The truth is that rarely do you find a Nigerian politician without baggage. Their friends, as well as their enemies, patiently wait to use it against them.
“If you don’t agree with them, they will shine light on your darkest secrets – truthful or fabricated,” he stated.
Odo further linked Tambuwal’s arrest to past comments made by APC leaders.
“I pin the EFCC arrest of an opposition leader, Tambuwal, on what’s been happening. The then leader of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, publicly said that once you joined the APC, your sins would be forgiven.
“We can also say that once you refuse to join APC or once you leave APC, you’ll have sins attached to you,” he said.
He also referenced the case of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, calling for reforms to ensure the EFCC’s independence.
“You remember the EFCC chairman promised to resign if former Kogi Governor Yahya Bello was not imprisoned or prosecuted.
“Today, Bello walks free. EFCC keeps mum. In fact, Bello recently won an award for good leadership. Oh, Bello is APC. So, he is free,” Odo said.
“Like many Nigerians, I call on the EFCC to be serious in the business it was established to do. If they allow politicians to keep manipulating the operations of the commission, nothing good will be achieved.
“I also recommend that the president should stop being the one to appoint the EFCC chairman. That way, it can function independently,” he added.
Source: Daily Post Nigeria
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