Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a political weapon to intimidate and suppress opposition figures, specifically citing the detention of former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
In a fiery X post on Tuesday, Atiku, a prominent leader of the ADC coalition alleged that Tambuwal’s detention is solely due to his affiliation with the opposition Coalition, part of a broader strategy to “harass, intimidate, and decimate” political rivals.
Atiku, who played a key role in establishing the EFCC during his tenure, condemned the agency’s alleged transformation into a tool for political coercion.
“The Tinubu administration has objectified the fight against corruption as a political tool to coerce opposition leaders into the ruling party,” he stated, pointing to a pattern where opposition figures face “phantom corruption allegations” that seemingly vanish once they align with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described this as a dangerous trend that undermines democratic institutions and fuels corruption rather than curbing it.
The former vice president highlighted what he called a growing tendency of the state acting as a “bully,” selectively targeting opposition governors and leaders to pressure them into joining the APC.
“We have seen how the EFCC has been used to empty opposition state governors into the ruling party, and the tea party is not about to end anytime soon,” Atiku wrote.
He urged civil society and Nigeria’s international allies to condemn the politicization of anti-corruption efforts, warning that it risks entrenching a one-party dictatorship.
The EFCC has not yet responded to the allegations, and Tambuwal’s detention remains a focal point of contention as Nigeria grapples with balancing anti-corruption efforts and political fairness.
Atiku reaffirmed the opposition’s resolve to resist what he described as “anti-democratic machinations,” vowing that the ADC and its allies would not succumb to pressure.
“The genuine fight against corruption requires the support of all Nigerians, but its objectification as a political agenda must be condemned,” he concluded.
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