The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Government of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a political tool to intimidate and discredit opposition figures.
In a statement on Tuesday, the party’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that the anti-graft agency had embarked on “a choreographed media trial” aimed at tarnishing the image of key opposition leaders.
Abdullahi pointed to the overnight detention of former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and the EFCC’s “urgent” request for records on the seven-month tenure of former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, as evidence of what he described as politically motivated actions.
“ADC, like all Nigerians, questions the curious timing, selective targets, and political motivations that now seem to define the EFCC’s actions. A fight against corruption that begins and ends with the opposition is not justice — it is persecution. We have no doubts that this is witch-hunting; it is the APC government weaponising anti-corruption to do its political battle,” the statement read.
He further alleged that the investigations were part of a broader effort to undermine the credibility of opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Once a former governor crosses over to the ruling party, their files vanish like morning dew. Since Ifeanyi Okowa joined the APC, have Nigerians heard a single whisper from the EFCC about his cases? Yet opposition leaders are hounded with allegations from decades past without a shred of new evidence,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC spokesperson called on Nigerians to reject what he described as the misuse of state institutions for political purposes.
“Today, it is David Mark, Ihedioha, and Tambuwal. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to hold this government accountable,” he warned.