The Presidency has vehemently rejected accusations from a coalition of opposition leaders that President Bola Tinubu is undermining Nigeria's multi-party democracy and weaponising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against political rivals, describing the claims as "subterfuge" and a desperate bid for relevance by a fragmented opposition.
In a statement issued on December 14 by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the government characterised the opposition comprising remnants of a "dying" Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and failed aspirants as "amusing" in their efforts to scapegoat the administration for their own failures.
The rebuke follows a joint statement released on December 14 by prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Chairman David Mark, Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, PDP chieftain Bode George, and former Minister Lawal Batagarawa.
Titled "Anti-Corruption, Not Anti-Opposition," they accused the Tinubu administration of politicising institutions like the EFCC, police, and ICPC to intimidate opponents, force defections, and pave the way for a one-party state ahead of 2027 elections.
The opposition demanded depoliticisation of the EFCC, embedding anti-graft operatives in payment processes, and an independent review of public accounts from 2015 to 2025 to expose alleged selective prosecutions.
Countering these allegations, Onanuga affirmed that recent defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are entirely voluntary, driven by appreciation for President Tinubu's reforms.
"None of the people who joined the governing APC was pressured to do so. They all did so of their own free will," he stated, rhetorically asking if mass movements to the PDP from 2000 to 2015 had similarly imperilled democracy.
On EFCC "weaponisation," the Presidency stressed the agency's independence, noting it operates without presidential interference.
"President Tinubu does not issue directives to any anti-corruption agency on whom to investigate, arrest, or prosecute," Onanuga said, emphasising that prosecutions are court-determined and accountability applies universally.
The statement pointed out that some signatories faced EFCC probes or international money laundering indictments before Tinubu's 2023 inauguration, suggesting their criticisms may stem from personal scrutiny:
"Are they now signing statements because their chickens are coming home to roost?"Onanuga hailed the EFCC's contributions to Nigeria's removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025 as evidence of effective, impartial anti-corruption efforts.
He warned against politicising institutions to foster impunity, urging those under investigation to defend themselves in court if innocent.
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