Nigerias President Tinubu.webp
The Digest:

A coalition of major opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, David Mark, and Bode George, has jointly accused President Bola Tinubu of weaponising the EFCC to weaken opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections. Their statement, titled “The Weaponisation of the EFCC”, alleges selective anti-corruption enforcement that benefits the ruling APC while eroding institutional credibility and public trust.

Key Points:
  • The leaders cited former APC chairman Adams Oshiomhole’s remark that joining the APC meant one’s “sins” were forgiven.
  • They argued this reflects a troubling pattern where allegations against APC members are ignored while opposition figures face aggressive probes.
  • The statement called for the EFCC to be insulated from partisan control and restored to its original legal mandate.
  • Signatories included ADC’s David Mark, ex-VP Atiku, ex-APC chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, Peter Obi, and Bode George.
  • They warned that using state institutions to stifle opposition endangers Nigeria’s democracy.
  • The coalition urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against what they termed a “calculated effort” to weaken dissent.
  • They demanded an impartial investigation and the prevention of financial crimes nationwide, as outlined in the EFCC Act.
The accusation underscores deepening political polarization, framing the anti-graft agency not as a guardian of accountability, but as a weapon rooted in the storm of partisan warfare.

Sources: Daily Post Nigeria, Vanguard