The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account, warning that the move could weaken public confidence in the forthcoming governorship election.
According to Punch, Atiku said in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, that the anti-graft agency’s decision to place a restriction on the account just days before the August 15 governorship election has sparked concerns over the independence of institutions charged with ensuring fairness in the electoral process.
The former vice president said freezing the state’s principal operational account days to the poll could disrupt governance, delay workers’ salaries, hinder essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation.
“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,” Atiku said.
While acknowledging that the EFCC has a constitutional responsibility to investigate allegations of financial misconduct, he maintained that investigations must follow due process and should not create the impression of political interference, especially close to an election.
“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,” he said.
Atiku further alleged that there is a growing pattern of selective deployment of federal institutions against opposition controlled states, arguing that such actions diminish public trust and weaken democratic institutions.
He called on the EFCC to reverse the restriction placed on the state’s allocation account, warning that the impact of the action would be felt more by ordinary residents than political office holders, stating that freezing the account would not only affect the government but also residents who depend on timely payment of salaries and essential public services.
“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 stated.
He also urged all institutions involved in the conduct of the August 15 governorship election to be neutral and ensure that the people of Osun decide the outcome of the election.
The statement was issued following the EFCC’s decision to place a “Post No Debit” restriction on Osun State Government account.
The EFCC stated that the restriction was imposed as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of about ₦11 billion in public funds and insisted that the action is not related to the forthcoming governorship election.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has, however, alleged that the affected account is used for the payment of workers’ salaries and accused the EFCC of attempting to cripple the state’s operations on the eve of the election.
The EFCC’s action has continued to generate reactions ahead of the governorship election, with political stakeholders expressing different views on the timing of the restriction, even as the commission insists it is carrying out a lawful investigation.