Osun poll: Atiku knocks Tinubu over freezing of Osun account
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for the 2027 election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the reported freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), just days before the state’s governorship election.
Atiku said the action is not a fight against corruption but an attack on the opposition. He described it as a serious threat to democracy and questioned the independence of government institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the timing of the action is worrying and could affect public confidence in the credibility of the election.
According to him, freezing the state’s main allocation account so close to the election could disrupt government activities, delay salary payments, affect the delivery of essential public services and create fear among the people. He said if the EFCC has genuine reasons to investigate the state, it should follow due legal process instead of taking actions that may appear politically motivated.
Atiku also said Nigeria’s democracy depends on independent institutions that act fairly and without political interference. He warned that using government agencies in a way that appears to target political opponents could weaken public trust in democratic institutions.
The former vice president claimed there is a growing pattern under the Tinubu administration in which opposition-controlled states face federal actions that raise concerns about political bias. He added that the reported freezing of the account, coming after what he described as the prolonged withholding of Osun State’s local government allocations, strengthens that perception.
He called on the EFCC to immediately lift the freeze on the state’s allocation account, saying the action would affect ordinary residents of Osun State through delayed salaries and disruptions to essential government services. Atiku also urged all institutions involved in the Osun governorship election to remain neutral, act within the Constitution and ensure that the people of Osun State are allowed to freely choose their next governor.
He further called on opposition parties and Nigerians who support constitutional democracy to remain united in defending democratic institutions, warning against what he described as the misuse of state institutions for political purposes.
