The presidency has dismissed claims by opposition leaders that the Bola Tinubu administration is using anti-corruption agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to persecute political opponents.
The rebuttal came after a coalition of opposition figures, in a statement on Sunday, December 14, accused the federal government of “weaponising” the EFCC to intimidate dissenters and destabilise opposition parties, warning that the trend posed a serious risk to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Responding, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the allegation was false and a desperate attempt by “failed politicians” to find excuses for their shortcomings.
He rejected suggestions that democracy was under threat because politicians were defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Our constitution guarantees freedom of association and affords our people the right to change their political leanings at any time of their choosing,” Onanuga said.
“None of the people who joined the governing APC was pressured to do so. They all did so of their own free will. They are being motivated by the noticeable gains of President Bola Tinubu’s reform programme,” he added.
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He argued that the same opposition leaders never condemned mass defections to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 2000 and 2015.
Onanuga said the EFCC’s ongoing investigations are legitimate efforts to ensure accountability within the law.
“While the Presidency does not speak for the EFCC and believes the agency can speak for itself, we must reiterate that the EFCC is an independent institution established by law and empowered to carry out its statutory responsibilities without interference or favour,” he said.
He maintained that President Tinubu gives no directives on EFCC investigations, arrests, or prosecutions. .
“Those who have cases to answer before EFCC should be bold and brave enough to defend themselves if they are clean,” Onanuga added.
Describing the accusations as a political diversion, he said: “We have taken cognisance of the signatories to the statement. It is instructive that some of them were previously investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC even before President Tinubu took office in 2023.”
He concluded that no one was above the law, saying the government remained committed to fairness and accountability.