THIS DAWN — Senior opposition figures have issued a strongly worded joint statement accusing the administration of President Bola Tinubu of pursuing a covert agenda to weaken and ultimately dismantle Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system through the politicisation of state institutions, particularly anti-corruption and security agencies.
In the statement, titled “Anti-Corruption, Not Anti-Opposition,” the opposition leaders warned that the growing perception of selective justice and political intimidation poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s constitutional order ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The statement was jointly signed by former Senate President David Mark; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun; former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi; PDP chieftain Bode George; and former Katsina State Governor Lawal Batagarawa.
The leaders alleged that institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are increasingly being perceived as instruments deployed to harass and intimidate opposition politicians rather than to combat corruption impartially.
According to the statement, Nigerians are witnessing what the signatories described as a “dangerous and undemocratic agenda” aimed at forcing opposition-controlled states into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) through pressure and intimidation rather than through credible electoral competition.
They pointed to recent defections of opposition governors to the ruling party as reinforcing public suspicion that coercion, rather than conviction, is driving political realignment.
The opposition leaders further claimed that the alleged strategy extends beyond governors to include prominent opposition figures seen as central to emerging coalitions ahead of the 2027 elections.
If unchecked, they warned, such actions could erode political pluralism and reduce Nigeria to a de facto one-party state.
Weaponising EFCC
A major focus of the statement was the EFCC, which the opposition accused of being weaponised for partisan ends.
The leaders cited a long-standing public perception that members of the ruling party enjoy protection from prosecution, while opposition figures face aggressive investigations and media trials, even over unproven allegations.
They referenced past remarks by a former APC national chairman suggesting that political defection confers immunity, arguing that such rhetoric has become symbolic of selective enforcement.
To support their claims, the opposition highlighted cases in which senior government officials allegedly implicated in scandals resigned only after public pressure but have not been charged or prosecuted months later.
They contrasted this with what they described as the swift and relentless pursuit of opposition figures over allegations that have yet to be tested in court.
The statement also raised concerns about what it described as the “erosion of the EFCC’s independence”.
It warned that an agency established to safeguard Nigeria’s economic integrity risks losing public legitimacy if it is seen as serving partisan interests.
The leaders cautioned that perceived injustice and selective prosecution could inflame political tensions and threaten national stability as the country approaches another election cycle.
Undermining multiparty democracy
As part of their demands, the opposition leaders called for the urgent depoliticisation of the EFCC and a return to its statutory mandate as outlined in Sections 6 and 7 of its enabling Act.
They stressed that genuine anti-corruption efforts must focus on prevention and accountability across all political divides, not selective enforcement.
They also warned against any attempt to undermine multiparty democracy, citing Lagos State’s political history as an example of how opposition forces can be marginalised through sustained pressure, inducement, and coercion.
In a significant policy proposal, the opposition leaders advocated embedding anti-graft operatives directly into government payment and expenditure processes at federal, state, and local government levels.
Citing a Supreme Court ruling affirming EFCC oversight over public accounts, they argued that real corruption prevention requires both pre- and post-expenditure monitoring.
They further proposed amending the EFCC Act to formalise this preventive role and to hold operatives accountable for failures to flag financial infractions.
Independent review body demanded
The statement also demanded the establishment of an independent review body to examine public accounts at federal, state, and local government levels from 2015 to 2025.
The proposed body, to be chaired by an eminent judge, would include representatives from civil society, the Nigerian Bar Association, professional accounting and banking bodies, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, security agencies, anti-graft institutions, and all political parties represented in the National Assembly.
Its mandate would include publishing findings and recommending reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
Concluding with a call to action, the opposition leaders urged Nigerians across political, regional, and religious lines to defend democratic principles.
They warned that silence in the face of perceived injustice would amount to complicity, stressing that Nigeria belongs to all citizens, not to a single party or leader.
They also signalled plans to brief international partners and diplomatic missions on their concerns, framing the issue as one with implications for Nigeria’s democratic credibility and global standing.
