₦airaland Forum

The African Democratic Congress on Tuesday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of singling out opposition figures for politically motivated investigations, alleging that the agency’s latest target is its Interim National Chairman and former Senate President, David Mark.

In a statement by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Bola Abdullahi, the ADC said the EFCC had embarked on a “choreographed media trial” against coalition leaders after the detention of former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, on Monday and the invitation of former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha.

“The EFCC has now surreptitiously started excavating all the files from David Mark’s tenure as Senate President, 10 years after he left office,” Abdullahi said, questioning the timing of the investigations. “The pattern of ignoring APC stalwarts with fresher and well-documented cases, while targeting opposition figures with stale allegations, is proof of selective justice and an assault on political freedom.”

The party alleged that the crackdown was part of the ruling All Progressives Congress’ strategy to weaken the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.


It urged Nigerians to demand an end to what it described as “witch-hunt disguised as anti-corruption.”

He said, “Following our earlier release on Monday, we wish to bring to the public’s attention fresh details that expose the extent of this coordinated assault on the opposition. The detention of one of our leaders, former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, has marked the start of the crackdown intended to intimidate key leaders of the opposition and discredit them through media trials.

“Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha served as Governor of Imo State for just seven months, from May 29, 2019, until the Supreme Court removed him on January 14, 2020 — a full five years and seven months ago. We, therefore, wonder what makes investigating him suddenly urgent now.”

Abdullahi accused the EFCC of selective justice and an assault on political freedom, saying, “Having failed to stop the coalition, the jittery ruling party’s next move is to discredit its leaders by getting the EFCC to accuse them of looting the entire treasuries. These are calculated media trials; it matters little whether there is a basis for these accusations — the game is the circus show.”

Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused President Bola Tinubu of “objectifying the fight against corruption as a political tool to coerce opposition leaders into the ruling party.”

In a statement on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Atiku said, “The only reason the EFCC has detained the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is because he is a member of the opposition coalition. It is a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to harass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition.”

Atiku accused Tinubu of abuse of power, saying, “It is as though today, anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations, and as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven. That is not how to fight the monster of corruption. Indeed, such tendencies provide the stimulant for corruption to thrive. While the genuine fight against corruption is a matter that requires the total support of all Nigerians, the objectification of it as a political agenda should be roundly condemned.”

Also, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria critised the move against opposition politicians, describing the EFCC as “an obedient lapdog deployed to do the dirty political work of the ruling All Progressives Congress.”

In a statement on Tuesday, HURIWA National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the move was intended to “break the spine of the opposition before the 2027 race.”

Onwubiko said, “Every discerning Nigerian can see the handwriting on the wall. The EFCC is no longer the fearless watchdog envisioned by law.”

EFCC, Presidency reject claims

Hoever, the EFCC dismissed the accusations as “self-serving, diversionary, narrow and idle.”

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in a statement, said, “If I am not condemned for investigating both former and serving strong ruling party governors and ministers, I should not be condemned for also investigating opposition figures. Fraud is fraud. Corruption is corruption. There is no sacred cow, protected interest or partisan consideration in the investigation and prosecution of corruption.”

He added, “Available records in our courts show that several political figures from all divides are answering charges. It is also public knowledge that the EFCC is busy investigating some key figures of the ruling party owing to allegations of corrupt practices.”

Similarly, presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, distanced President Tinubu from the probe of the opposition politicians.

Responding to questions by The PUNCH, Onanuga said, “We are not the EFCC, we represent the President here. We are not the EFCC, you can call the EFCC to find out whether they are weaponising any arrests or whatever. It’s not our business, so we can’t be seen to be defending them or supporting them.”

Afenifere disowns coalition

Meanwhile, pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, denied reports linking it to the ADC-led coalition.

In a statement on Tuesday, the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said, “Afenifere is not against any political group, but it is not in cahoots with any political party since it is non-partisan politically… Afenifere is for all the Yorubas… talking about coalition or no coalition is, therefore, a distraction that we cannot afford.”


Coalition woos youths

On Tuesday, the ADC promised to ensure greater inclusion of young Nigerians in its activities, programmes, and policies when it comes into power.

This assurance was given by the party’s Interim National Chairman, David Mark, and National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufai, during its International Youth Day event held in Abuja on Tuesday.

IYD, observed annually on August 12, raises global awareness of youth-related issues while celebrating their potential as vital contributors to society.

The 2025 theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” underscores the critical role young people play in turning global goals into impactful, community-based initiatives.

Represented by coalition leader and former APC vice chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman, Mark pledged ADC’s commitment to true democracy, rejecting imposition, favouritism, and unaccountable politics.

He stated, “We will uphold collective leadership at every level, ensuring every member has a voice. This is your party, truly owned by its members, without exception.

“Our grassroots structures will be revitalised to reflect modern realities. From polling units and wards to the national stage, every organ of our party will be re-energised for active participation.

“To our young people: ADC is your home. We are opening the doors for the next generation, not as a gesture, but as a commitment. Our policies, candidate selection, and leadership roles will ensure real inclusion of youths and women, not tokenism. That is why 35% of leadership positions are reserved for women, and leadership roles will include Nigerians under 40.

“Nigerians will know ADC as a party driven by clear ideology, progressive policies, and patriotic governance. We will not leave leadership direction to chance.”

Mark encouraged Nigerian youths to join the ADC, describing it as a focused, principled, and people-oriented coalition committed to delivering good governance for all.

“On this International Youth Day, I call on all Nigerians to join us. ADC is the party of equal opportunity, where age, gender, religion, or region are never barriers. Our handshake is extended to all—across every divide, because the future we build is one we build together, he added.

Earlier, Rufai stated that if Nigerian youths cannot transform their streets, they cannot transform the nation, warning that without changing Nigeria, Africa will remain at the mercy of others in shaping its future.

The ADC Youth Leader lamented that despite Nigeria having Africa’s largest youth population, with over 70% under 35, it remains the most economically disadvantaged generation since independence.

He stated, “The National Bureau of Statistics reports that 133 million Nigerians are living in multidimensional poverty. Food inflation is over 33%. The National Unemployment Report shows youth unemployment above 53%.

“UNESCO confirms that over 20 million Nigerian children are out of school, the highest in the world. This is not just a policy failure; it is a moral crime. How can the same leaders who boast about GDP growth ignore the fact that our classrooms are empty while our prisons and streets are full of young people without hope?

“The Nigeria Security Tracker recorded over 12,000 deaths from violent attacks in 2024 alone—many of them in communities where youth make up the majority of the victims. In Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, and Kaduna, rural youth are kidnapped for ransom while urban youth are hunted down in the name of “security operations.” And yet, our so-called leaders spend more money on convoy fuel than on community policing.

“Under the theme Local Youth Action for SDGs and Beyond, we must confront the hard truth — in Nigeria and across Africa, young people’s efforts toward achieving the SDGs are shackled by bad government policies, poor budgetary allocations, and a lack of political will. With just five years left before 2030, the gap between developed and developing nations is glaring, and a one-size-fits-all SDG framework is failing to address our unique challenges.

“The African Democratic Congress, guided by its constitution and vision beyond Nigeria, calls on the United Nations to urgently adopt differentiated goals for developed and developing countries so that the realities of poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and educational decline in our societies are not ignored but directly addressed. The youth of Africa cannot continue to be judged by the standards of nations whose histories, economies, and governance structures are worlds apart from ours.”

Rufai affirmed that the ADC’s loyalty lies with Nigeria, not any tribe, region, or the selfish ambitions of a few—vowing to establish lasting systems that serve all citizens, rather than relying on empty post-election slogans.

He continued, “I am not here to tell you to wait. I am here to tell you that e don reach. As the streets say, no be who first start na him dey finish race. The incumbents may have started with power, but if the youth organise, we will finish with victory.

“I speak as someone who has queued for fuel at midnight, borrowed to pay school fees, and seen friends take dangerous journeys across the Sahara and Mediterranean because home gave them no reason to stay. These chains can break, but only if the people wearing them rise together.

“The ADC is ready to give young Nigerians a seat at the table, not as decoration, but as decision-makers. We will champion policies that create real jobs by investing in agro-processing, renewable energy, and tech startups. We will fund education like our lives depend on it—because they do. We will bring security to our communities not by empty promises, but by empowering local security structures and addressing root causes.”

emkz:
If there is a petition against David Mark, EFCC must not investigate it and invite Mark for clarifications according to ADC.

Anyone who has a case of misuse of public funds must not be touched so long as he is in the opposition.

ADC, can you see how unserious you are?

When former President Jonathan had Tinubu docked in 2011, a team of lawyers represented him. He sat in the dock for three hours. He was accused of operating foreign accounts while he was governor. Tinubu mined political capital from that incident. Many lawyers and political associates followed him there and the judge adjourned the case. PDP likely realized the futility of their attempt and we didn't hear about the case again.

If any ADC chieftain is invited, let ADC executives, if any, accompany the chieftain. That will intimidate those who they feel might be witch-hunting their chieftains. But no, they would be releasing statements which demonstrate their political unpreparedness. You are competing with Tinubu and doing it with media. A man who owns a newspaper and major television station, and a strong army of media veterans like Segun Osoba, Bayo Onanuga, Abike Dabiri, Dele Alake, and Sam Omatseye. You don't fight Tinubu with the media, you fight him with actions. Arise News fought Tinubu and their owner even involved himself. When TVC effectively neutralized Arise News and the duo of Dele Alake and Bayo Onanuga tore into the owner of Arise News, they had to eat the humble pie. You fight Tinubu with actions, not media. ADC announced coalition, APC received defectors. What does that tell you? People visit the president and announce defections. Who and who is Atiku meeting? Who is ADC courting?

ADC, why have you not organized a national rally to do a show of force?

Try it, please. Let's see how many Nigerians gravitate towards you.

Slytiger:
Bunch of clowns. Where were they when EFCC was chasing Yaya Bello, a membee of APC, upandan....

Slytiger:
Bunch of clowns. Where were they when EFCC was chasing Yaya Bello, a membee of APC, upandan....

Blitzerz:
Even if tinubu like
Let him use fbi....
2027. He goes back to lagos

Slytiger:
Bunch of clowns. Where were they when EFCC was chasing Yaya Bello, a membee of APC, upandan....

DLSReigns:
This made me love Obi the more. The govt dare not mention him because the guy just dey his lane of integrity. Nothing to hide. I suggest younger politicians emulate him to avoid all these witch hunt term invitations due to crooked past. Integrity and transparency while in office is the antidote to future political witch hunt!