By Opeyemi Adelakun
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) restriction on the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account, describing the move as a dangerous assault on democracy and calling for its immediate reversal.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President said the decision to place a restriction on the state’s principal operational account barely days before the August 15 governorship election raises serious concerns about the neutrality of institutions expected to safeguard the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process.
Atiku argued that the timing of the action could undermine public confidence in the credibility of the forthcoming poll.
“It is impossible to ignore the implications of freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election. Such an action could disrupt governance, delay salary payments, impede essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation that has no place in a democratic society,” he said.
The former Vice President acknowledged the constitutional mandate of anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations of financial misconduct but insisted that such investigations must be conducted strictly within the confines of the law.
“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,” Atiku stated.
He further alleged a growing pattern of what he described as the selective deployment of federal institutions against opposition-controlled states.
According to him, the latest development, coming after what he characterised as the prolonged withholding of the state’s local government allocations, reinforces concerns that public institutions are being weaponised for political purposes instead of serving the public interest.
“The selective and politically convenient deployment of state institutions diminishes public trust and weakens the democratic order. Institutions established to enforce the law must never become instruments for creating fear or conferring political advantage,” he added.
Atiku maintained that the restriction on the account would ultimately hurt ordinary residents rather than political office holders.
“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.
The ADC standard-bearer also urged all institutions involved in the conduct of the governorship election to remain impartial and ensure that the democratic choice of the electorate is protected.
“The people of Osun State alone must determine the outcome of their election. No external force or institution of government should, by action or omission, cast a shadow over the credibility of that democratic choice,” he stated.
The statement follows the EFCC’s decision to place a “Post No Debit” restriction on an Osun State Government account.
The anti-graft agency has maintained that the action forms part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of about ₦11 billion in public funds and is unrelated to the August 15 governorship election.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, however, has alleged that the affected account is used for the payment of workers’ salaries and accused the commission of attempting to cripple the operations of the state government ahead of the election.
The disagreement has heightened political tensions in the state, with opposition figures questioning the timing of the EFCC’s action, while the commission insists it is acting strictly within its statutory anti-corruption mandate.
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