The Presidency has refuted claims made by opposition politicians that President Bola Tinubu is undermining multi-party democracy and using anti-corruption agencies as weapons against his political rivals. In a statement released on Sunday, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, characterized these allegations as unfounded and politically motivated, suggesting that the opposition is merely seeking scapegoats after experiencing political setbacks.
The Presidency defended the defection of politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting that these moves are voluntary, constitutionally protected, and driven by the positive results of President Tinubu’s reform program. The statement noted that similar shifts in political allegiance toward the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 2000 and 2015 did not elicit similar accusations of democratic erosion.
The statement also addressed claims that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is being used to target political opponents, emphasizing the agency’s independence and legal mandate to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, regardless of political affiliation. The Presidency challenged those criticizing the government to demonstrate accountability and defend themselves through legal channels.
The Presidency dismissed allegations of “weaponization” as distractions, arguing that they stem from a lack of substantive criticisms against the Tinubu administration. The statement also pointed out that some of the opposition figures making these claims had previously faced investigations or prosecutions by the EFCC, even before Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
The statement cautioned against undermining national institutions for political purposes and stressed that the fight against corruption is a shared responsibility. The Presidency cited Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as evidence of progress in the anti-corruption efforts, asserting that no one should be shielded from accountability, regardless of political ties.
