Presidency Rebuts Opposition Claims, Defends Tinubu’s Reforms and EFCC’s Autonomy
The Nigerian Presidency has strongly rejected recent allegations from opposition politicians accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of undermining the country’s multiparty democratic system and politicising anti-corruption efforts.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described the opposition’s claims as baseless, politically motivated and an attempt to distract from the government’s achievements.
The statement addressed a wave of defections by political figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying these moves were voluntary and protected by the constitution’s guarantee of freedom of association. The Presidency argued that no individual was coerced or pressured to join the APC, asserting that politicians were instead drawn by the progress of President Tinubu’s reform agenda.
Responding to accusations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is being used as a political tool against opposition members, the Presidency firmly maintained that the anti-graft agency is independent and operates without interference from the executive. It emphasised that the President does not direct investigations or prosecutions, which are determined by the courts.
According to the statement, some critics currently alleging “weaponisation” of anti-corruption agencies had previously been subject to EFCC scrutiny even before Mr. Tinubu took office in 2023. The Presidency suggested these figures might be using political rhetoric to evade legal accountability.
The Presidency also urged Nigerians to support the anti-corruption drive and cautioned against narratives that could weaken public trust in national institutions. It described the focus on alleged “weaponisation” as a distraction from the government’s policy achievements and governance reforms.