By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of deploying anti-corruption agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to target opposition figures and force defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement on his verified Facebook page Tuesday, Atiku condemned what he called the “politicisation” of the EFCC, citing the detention of former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and the summoning of former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha over corruption allegations.
He alleged that Tambuwal’s arrest was politically motivated due to his role in a coalition planning to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
“Anyone in the opposition becomes a target for phantom corruption allegations. But once they join Tinubu’s political agenda, their ‘sins’ are forgiven,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President warned that the trend signalled an attempt to weaken Nigeria’s democracy and create a one-party state, vowing resistance from the opposition.
Atiku, who said the EFCC was established during his administration to fight graft, lamented that it had become “a tool for political persecution.”
He urged civil society and the international community to condemn the alleged misuse of anti-corruption agencies for partisan ends.
“The genuine fight against corruption requires the support of all Nigerians. But using it as a political weapon undermines the cause and enables corruption to thrive,” he stated.
The EFCC on Monday detained Tambuwal over alleged financial misconduct and invited Ihedioha for questioning over similar allegations from his short tenure as Imo governor.
