Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday accused President Bola Tinubu of using federal institutions to weaken opposition parties, saying the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) days before the governorship election showed a pattern of political interference.
Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the action against Osun was not an isolated case but part of what he described as repeated federal actions against opposition controlled states.
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He argued that such actions threaten public confidence in democratic institutions and the electoral process.
Atiku said the timing of the account freeze was troubling because it came before a governorship election.
He said there was no justification for freezing a state’s principal operational account at such a time, warning that it could affect governance, delay workers’ salaries and interrupt essential public services.
Atiku alleges pattern under Tinubu
Atiku said it was becoming difficult to ignore what he described as a pattern under the Tinubu administration in which opposition controlled states appeared to face coercive federal actions.
He cited the freezing of Osun State’s statutory allocation account and said it came after what he described as the prolonged denial of the state’s statutory local government allocations.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the pattern under the Tinubu administration, where opposition controlled states appear to be the consistent targets of coercive federal actions.
Coming after the prolonged denial of Osun State’s statutory local government allocations, this latest action reinforces the disturbing impression that public institutions are being weaponised to punish political opponents rather than serve the Nigerian people,” he said.
Atiku also argued that anti corruption agencies should follow due process whenever investigations are necessary.
“If there are legitimate concerns requiring investigation, the law provides due process. Anti corruption agencies must not conduct themselves in a manner that creates the perception that they are being deployed to influence political outcomes or weaken elected governments at critical electoral moments,” he said.
Calls for reversal
The ADC presidential candidate asked the EFCC to immediately reverse the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account.
He said the action was affecting not only the state government but also residents who depend on public services and salary payments.
“Freezing the state’s allocation account is not merely an attack on the Osun State Government; it is a direct assault on the people of Osun State, whose salaries, essential public services and daily governance stand to suffer.
The anti corruption mandate of the EFCC must never be distorted into a political weapon against opposition governments,” he said.
Atiku also appealed to institutions involved in the Osun governorship election to remain impartial and allow voters to decide the outcome without interference.
He further accused the President of pursuing electoral victories through the use of state institutions.
“President Tinubu is leaving no one in doubt that he is determined to win elections at all costs. Democracy cannot coexist with the systematic weaponisation of state institutions against political opponents.
I therefore call on all opposition parties and every Nigerian committed to constitutional democracy to close ranks and resist this dangerous drift before it is too late,” he said.
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