Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that the detention of former Sokoto State Governor and serving Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is politically motivated.
In a statement, Atiku claimed the action was part of what he described as the Tinubu administration’s ongoing strategy to “harass, intimidate, and decimate” the opposition. He accused the government of weaponising the anti-corruption fight to coerce political opponents into joining the ruling party.
“At the moment, it appears that anyone aligned with the opposition becomes a target for phantom corruption allegations, only to have their so-called ‘sins’ forgiven once they join President Tinubu’s political fold,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President, who served from 1999 to 2007, recalled that the EFCC was established during his administration to fight corruption without political bias, stressing that its use for partisan purposes undermines institutional integrity and fuels corruption.
He further alleged that the EFCC had been instrumental in pressuring opposition governors into defecting to the ruling party, warning that such “anti-democratic machinations” threaten to entrench one-party dominance in Nigeria.
While reaffirming support for a genuine fight against corruption, Atiku called on civil society groups and the international community to condemn the politicisation of anti-graft agencies, urging Nigerians to resist any slide toward dictatorship.
