The Accord Party has demanded the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, over the controversy surrounding the freezing of Osun State Government accounts.
The party made the call on Friday while applauding President Bola Tinubu for directing the anti-graft agency to reverse the decision.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, Accord National Chairman, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, described the President’s intervention as timely, saying it was necessary to protect democratic institutions.
Mgbudem stated that the party had lost confidence in the EFCC leadership, accusing the commission of acting in a partisan manner ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
He alleged that Olukoyede’s actions had damaged the reputation of the anti-corruption agency, insisting that the EFCC chairman should step aside.
According to him, if Olukoyede refuses to resign, President Tinubu should remove him from office in order to restore public trust in the commission.
“Having demonstrated unprecedented partisanship in Osun State politics, Accord has lost confidence in the current leadership of the EFCC,” Mgbudem said.
The party also urged security agencies, anti-corruption bodies and other democratic institutions to remain impartial and operate within the limits of the law throughout the election period.
Mgbudem warned against the use of federal institutions to intimidate political opponents, stressing that elections should not be conducted under pressure or fear.
He further appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free, fair and credible governorship election, while calling on civil society organisations, election observers, the media and opposition parties to remain alert against actions that could threaten the credibility of the poll.
The controversy began after the EFCC froze Osun State Government accounts on Wednesday, with the commission stating that the action was part of its investigation into alleged financial irregularities.
However, President Bola Tinubu later directed the EFCC to return to court and withdraw the order freezing the accounts, noting that actions taken by federal agencies are often associated with the Presidency, whether or not he was aware of them beforehand.
BACKSTORY:
The controversy followed the EFCC’s decision to freeze the accounts of the Osun State Government amid an investigation into alleged financial transactions. The move generated criticism from political groups, who accused the commission of interfering in the state’s affairs ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
President Bola Tinubu later directed the EFCC to reverse the action, stating that federal institutions must avoid actions that could create the impression of political interference.
The development has intensified debate over the independence of anti-corruption agencies and the role of security institutions during election periods, with opposition parties calling for neutrality and transparency from government agencies.
