A coalition of opposition leaders has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a political weapon to undermine opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The leaders claimed that the alleged selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws by the EFCC and other security agencies has eroded the credibility of the anti-graft fight and weakened public trust in democratic institutions.

The accusation was contained in a joint statement titled “The Weaponisation of the EFCC,” signed by prominent opposition figures including Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Peter Obi; Lawal Batagarawa; Bode George; and former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.

According to the statement, the EFCC has consistently targeted opposition figures while allegedly overlooking corruption allegations involving members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a trend the opposition described as politically motivated.

The leaders referenced a past remark by former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who once suggested that defectors to the APC had their past “sins” forgiven. They argued that the comment has since come to symbolise a broader perception that ruling party members enjoy immunity from prosecution, while opposition figures face aggressive investigations and media trials without established evidence.

The coalition called for the immediate removal of political influence from the EFCC, insisting that the agency must operate independently and professionally.

“The EFCC must be insulated from partisan control and should not operate at the behest of any president, political party, or political faction,” the statement said.

They urged the Federal Government to return the anti-graft agency to its constitutional role of impartial investigation and prosecution, stressing that selective prosecution and political harassment fall outside its legal mandate as outlined in Sections 6 and 7 of the EFCC Act.

The opposition leaders also called on Nigerians across political, ethnic, religious, and professional lines to remain vigilant, warning that democracy is under threat from what they described as a deliberate attempt to silence opposition voices through state institutions.

2027: Opposition Leaders Allege Political Use of EFCC Against Rivals

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