Politics
Presidency, Opposition Clash Over Alleged Weaponising Of EFCC
Prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and PDP elder statesman Bode George, on Sunday, accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of deliberately undermining opposition parties ahead of future elections.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, also signed by ADC National Chairman David Mark, former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, and Lawal Batagawara, the opposition called for an independent audit of federal, state, and local government accounts from 2015 to 2025, alleging that state authority is being weaponized against political opponents rather than used to combat economic crimes.
The statement follows a wave of defections by governors, National Assembly members, and other influential figures to the ruling APC, including the recent defection of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the PDP.
The opposition claimed that major national institutions—including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria Police, and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission—are increasingly being used as instruments of political intimidation, selectively enforcing justice against opposition figures while shielding ruling party members.
“Across our nation, state power is being deployed not for the prevention of economic crimes, but for the persecution of perceived political adversaries, with the ultimate aim of weakening opposition voices and dismantling Nigeria’s multiparty democracy,” the statement said.
The leaders alleged a covert agenda to bring all state governments under APC control, using anti-corruption agencies to intimidate opposition governors into defection. They warned that this pattern, if unchecked, threatens Nigeria’s democratic stability. “Recent defections reinforce public suspicion that political pressure, rather than ideological or personal persuasion, is driving this realignment,” the statement added, highlighting a broader project targeting key opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general election.
They also criticised the EFCC’s selective prosecution pattern, citing comments by former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole that “once you have joined APC, all your sins are forgiven,” as symbolic of the administration’s approach.
The opposition proposed embedding anti-corruption operatives in government payment processes and creating an independent review body with full access to public accounts to expose selective prosecutions and strengthen the EFCC.
The ADC Kebbi State chapter criticised the EFCC for the detention of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), describing it as unconstitutional and politically motivated. Malami, through his spokesperson Mohammed Bello Doka, denied allegations linking him to terrorism financing or operating 46 bank accounts, describing them as “false, baseless, and part of a coordinated media trial.”
In response, the Presidency on Sunday rejected claims that President Tinubu is weaponising the EFCC, describing the opposition’s attacks as “scapegoating by a dying political party” and “failed aspirants regrouping on an unstable platform.”
In a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information & Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency accused critics of seeking “cheap political gains” by alleging a threat to multi-party democracy because politicians are freely joining the APC.
“They alleged a threat to multi-party democracy because many top politicians are joining the governing APC of their own free will,” Onanuga said. Citing constitutional guarantees of freedom of association, the Presidency insisted that defections were voluntary and motivated by “noticeable gains” from Tinubu’s reform programme, not coercion.
Onanuga reaffirmed the EFCC’s independence, stating that the commission investigates and prosecutes financial crimes irrespective of political affiliation or personality, and that prosecutions are determined by the courts, not the Presidency.
“The EFCC is an independent institution established by law and empowered to carry out its statutory responsibilities without interference or favour,” he said. “Those who have cases to answer should be bold enough to defend themselves if they are clean. No one is above the law. Everyone must be accountable for their actions, both in and out of office.”
The Presidency also argued that some opposition figures had previously been investigated or prosecuted before Tinubu took office in 2023, and some had faced foreign money-laundering probes. Onanuga suggested that their criticism reflects mounting pressure: “Are they now signing statements because their chickens are coming home to roost?”
Warning against undermining national institutions, the Presidency urged critics to stop “weaponising politics to escape accountability,” stressing that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility and must not be trivialised by “baseless, jaundiced or politicised narratives.”
The dispute underscores growing tensions between the Presidency and opposition over perceived politicisation of anti-corruption agencies, with both sides framing the controversy as central to the future of Nigeria’s democracy. At the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not officially responded to the allegations.
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has won the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He polled 166,375 votes to defeat former Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, who got 4,110 votes.
Speaking shortly after he was declared winner, Kefas noted that the victory belongs to all members of his party.
The decision by some former ministers of President Bola Tinubu to resign from the Federal Executive Council in pursuit of elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections appears to be yielding mixed fortunes, with only two securing party tickets so far.
Five former cabinet members stepped down from their positions after the Presidency directed political appointees seeking elective offices to resign before participating in party primaries.
Their resignation was in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
Among those affected were former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who resigned to contest for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Bauchi State; and former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, who resigned to pursue Kebbi senatorial ticket.
Others are former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, who resigned to contest Gombe governorship ticket; former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, pursuing House of Representatives ticket in Abia State; and former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned to contest the Oyo governorship primaries.
Of the five, only Onyejeocha and Sununu have secured their tickets.
Onyejeocha clinched the APC ticket for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia after emerging as an unopposed candidate.
Sununu also secured the APC ticket for Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency after withdrawing from the Kebbi South senatorial race.
Adelabu, Alkali lose out, Tuggar’s fate hangs
Adelabu, who resigned after the deadline set by the President, had hoped to secure the party’s governorship ticket in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former minister was, however, defeated in the contest by Senator Sarafadeen Alli.
Alli polled 578,143 votes to defeat Adelabu, who got 19,193 votes.
Following the outcome of the exercise, Adelabu alleged manipulation in the primary process, insisting that the election did not reflect the true wishes of party members.
He vowed to challenge the outcome of the election, adding that his team was preparing to petition the party leadership at the national level.
Speaking to journalists during the exercise, the ex-minister said, “In some wards, our people were prevented from voting; they were intimidated, they were chased away violently. And in some wards, voting did not take place at all, but they recorded numbers for them.
“All these kinds of misconduct are not good at this stage of our democracy in Nigeria and something has to be done about it. We are going to write serious petitions against all these things that took place.”
Similarly, former transport minister Alkali failed to secure the APC governorship ticket in Gombe State after boycotting the primary process over alleged irregularities.
Alkali lost to Jamilu Gwamna, who is backed by the incumbent, Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
Gwamna emerged winner of the primary after polling 247,161 votes to defeat Alkali, who polled 11, 612 votes and the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, who scored 12,120 votes.
Alkali had earlier boycotted the primaries over alleged lack of fairness, inclusivity, and credibility.
He also alleged that the exercise lacked the basic hallmarks of a credible democratic process.
While Adelabu and Alkali have lost out in their political bids, the fate of Tuggar hangs in the balance.
His supporters threatened to leave the APC if the party imposed a governorship candidate.
The supporters made their position known on Friday amid speculations that former Bauchi State governor, Muhammad Abubakar, may emerge as the party’s consensus candidate.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the Director of Media, Tuggar Foundation, Ibrahim Malam, said members of the movement would not remain in a party where internal democracy was allegedly being undermined.
According to him, the position being canvassed was that of members of the movement and not that of Tuggar himself.
“Regarding this narration of somebody becoming the APC flag bearer who is not competent, somebody who lost an election, we can’t remain in the party where democracy is not practised.
“I’m saying this on behalf of my team, not on behalf of the former minister Yusuf Tuggar. But this is our collective mind with the people coordinating his social media. We cannot support a party where democracy is not being practised,” he said.
Also speaking, a pharmacist and social media influencer, Bello Adamu, popularly known as Elder Karofi, rejected what he described as an attempt to impose a candidate on party members.
Adamu alleged that the reported consensus arrangement in favour of Abubakar amounted to injustice and warned that many supporters of Tuggar might refuse to support the APC if the decision stood.
“We reject this imposition and I don’t think any one of us is going to support anybody if that happens,” he stated.
He further disclosed that consultations were ongoing among supporters on the next political step to take, including the possibility of defecting from the APC to another political party.
Adamu also criticised the former governor’s record in office, insisting that Tuggar remained a more competent option among the aspirants seeking the APC governorship ticket in the state.
Alkali not leaving APC
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Umar Alkali, the media aide to ex-minister Alkali, clarified that his principal did not withdraw from the governorship race but merely boycotted the APC primary process.
He said, “He (Alkali) is still in the race; he only boycotted the primaries. Given what happened during the previous House of Representatives and Senatorial primaries, after consultations, he deemed it fit to boycott the exercise.”
Alkali explained that many people misunderstood the situation and wrongly concluded that the former minister had withdrawn from the contest.
“He is not withdrawing from the governorship race. This is what most people misunderstood. He is still in the race; he only boycotted the process,” he added.
He also dismissed speculation that the former minister was planning to leave the ruling party, saying “No, he (Alkali) is not quitting the party. He is still in the APC.”
The aide further stated that Alkali remained loyal to the leadership of the APC and the Tinubu-led administration.
Meanwhile, Adelabu has dismissed the outcome of the primary election.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH through his media aide, Femi Awogboro, the former minister said he was unaware of any officially declared result.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. We don’t know of any result because we have not seen any result. The result has not been announced by anybody,” Awogboro said.
Asked whether Adelabu would challenge the outcome of the election or consider leaving the party, Awogboro said, “I won’t be able to say anything as regards that,” he added.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday conducted primary elections for aspirants interested in contesting on the party’s platform.
According to Naija News, most first-term governors secured return tickets to seek re-election, while several outgoing governors also successfully delivered their preferred successors in consensus-driven primaries across the country.
Governors who clinched tickets unopposed to fly the APC flag in 2027 included Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Umaru Bago (Niger), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Umar Namadi (Jigawa).
Also, Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Senator Olamilekan Adeola in Ogun; Kingsley Chinda in Rivers; and Mustapha Gubio in Borno all emerged as consensus candidates in their respective states.
In Rivers, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Tonye Cole and Dakorinama George-Kelly withdrew from the race, paving the way for Chinda to emerge as the sole aspirant.
The exercises, however, were not smooth sailing in Oyo, Kwara, Bauchi and Taraba states.
As earlier reported by Naija News, the APC national headquarters halted the Kwara governorship primary midway on Thursday and announced that the exercise has been rescheduled for Friday.
In Taraba, Governor Agbu Kefas faced a tough challenge from former Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, who insisted the process must be transparent and credible.
Similarly, in Oyo, former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, rejected the process, alleging intimidation, manipulation and falsification of results in parts of the state.
Members of the party in Bauchi State decried alleged moves to impose a governorship candidate, insisting on a transparent, credible and competitive process.
Following some hitches, the APC leadership also postponed the governorship primary in Bauchi to Friday while the party has approved the rescheduling of the State House of Assembly Primary Elections for Maradun I and Maradun II Constituencies in Zamfara State to Sunday, May 24, 2026.
These developments were confirmed in a statement on Thursday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
“The decision was approved by the National Working Committee NWC following consultations with relevant stakeholders and in furtherance of the Party’s commitment to ensuring transparent, orderly, peaceful, and credible primary election process,” he said.
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