Atiku Abubakar slams EFCC's freeze of Osun State accounts as 'assault on democracy'

Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for freezing the statutory allocation account of Osun State Government. He described the action as a "dangerous assault on democracy" and expressed serious concerns about the neutrality of institutions tasked with upholding the rule of law.

In a statement released Thursday, Abubakar highlighted the timing of the freeze, occurring just days before the August 15 governorship election in Osun State. He argued that such a move is capable of eroding public confidence in the credibility of the upcoming election. "It is impossible to ignore the implications of freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election," he stated, adding that it could disrupt governance, delay salaries, and impede essential services.

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The freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a dangerous assault on democracy.

Abubakar acknowledged the constitutional responsibility of anti-corruption agencies to investigate financial misconduct. However, he stressed that such investigations must follow due process and avoid creating the impression of political interference. "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 asserted.

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It is impossible to ignore the implications of freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election.

The presidential candidate further alleged a pattern of "selective deployment of federal institutions against opposition-controlled states." He contended that this action, following the prolonged withholding of local government allocations to Osun, reinforces the perception that state institutions are being weaponized for political purposes. "The selective and politically convenient deployment of state institutions diminishes public trust and weakens the democratic order," Abubakar said.

He urged the EFCC to immediately lift the restriction on the state's account, emphasizing that ordinary residents, not political officeholders, would ultimately bear the brunt of the consequences. The freezing of the account, he warned, is not just an attack on the state government but on its citizens.

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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.