The Presidency has rejected recent claims by opposition politicians accusing President Bola Tinubu of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and using anti-corruption agencies to target political opponents.
It described the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said opposition leaders were engaging in “subterfuge and an empty search for scapegoats” following political setbacks.
The Presidency stressed that defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are voluntary and constitutionally protected, noting that freedom of association allows politicians to change parties at will.
READ ALSO: Atiku, Obi, Mark, Oyegun Warn Tinubu Against One-party State
“The people joining the APC are doing so of their own free will, motivated by the noticeable gains of President Bola Tinubu’s reform programme,” the statement said, adding that similar movements to the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 2000 and 2015 did not generate accusations of democratic erosion.
EFCC Independence Reaffirmed
The Presidency also dismissed claims that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is being used to intimidate political opponents, insisting that the agency operates independently within the law.
While noting that it does not speak for the EFCC, the statement reaffirmed that the agency has a statutory mandate to investigate and prosecute financial crimes regardless of political affiliation.
READ ALSO: Full List, Allegations: Buhari’s Ex-Officials Under EFCC Investigation
“It is curious that those who claim to want to rescue Nigeria are now waging a war against accountability and probity,” the statement added, urging those under investigation to defend themselves through legal channels.
No Presidential Interference
Mr. Onanuga emphasized that President Tinubu does not direct anti-corruption agencies on whom to investigate or prosecute, stressing that prosecutions are determined by the courts.
Describing allegations of “weaponisation” as political distractions, the statement argued that such narratives arise from a lack of substantive campaign issues against the Tinubu administration, which it said has achieved notable successes in less than three years.
Opposition Background Highlighted
The statement also recalled that some signatories of the opposition statement had previously been investigated or prosecuted by the EFCC before Tinubu assumed office in 2023, while others were allegedly implicated in international financial crime cases.
The Presidency warned against attempts to politicise national institutions, noting that the fight against corruption remains a collective responsibility.
“No one is above the law, and political affiliation should not be a shield against accountability,” the statement said, citing Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as evidence of progress in anti-corruption efforts.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
