Abuja, Nigeria — Panic has spread within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its allied political coalition ahead of the 2027 general election, following what party leaders allege is a targeted clampdown on opposition figures by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The development comes after the EFCC on Monday interrogated former Sokoto State governor and coalition member, Aminu Tambuwal, over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals totalling ₦189 billion during his tenure between 2015 and 2023.
Tambuwal, who arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 11:30 a.m., was questioned on transactions the anti-graft agency claims breached the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. “The withdrawals are in flagrant violation of the law,” a senior EFCC source told The PUNCH.
Although EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined direct comment on Tambuwal’s case, he dismissed broader allegations by the ADC that the commission is acting as a political arm of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “The EFCC is non-partisan… Those who did the crime should be ready to have their time in court,” he said.
ADC Cries Foul Over ‘Politically Motivated’ Probes
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi alleged that the EFCC’s recent invitations to at least three former governors now key leaders of the coalition were part of a campaign to intimidate opposition politicians. “These are not fresh cases… This is an attempt to force them to leave the coalition,” Abdullahi claimed.
In a statement, the party accused the EFCC of selectively reopening old cases against opposition members while ignoring corruption allegations involving APC figures. “This is selective prosecution, and selective prosecution is the death of justice,” the ADC warned, calling on civil society and the media to resist “a dangerous slide into dictatorship.”
Coalition in Turmoil
The EFCC’s actions have heightened tensions within the opposition bloc, already grappling with internal divisions. Last month, the Obidient Movement accused ADC leaders of sidelining supporters of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in coalition decision-making.
Meanwhile, prominent political heavyweights including former Lagos governor Akinwunmi Ambode, former Ekiti governor Kayode Fayemi, ex-SGF Boss Mustapha, and former vice president Atiku Abubakar have either publicly reaffirmed loyalty to the APC or distanced themselves from speculation linking them to the ADC coalition.
Leadership Changes and Warnings
In a related development, the ADC’s 2023 governorship candidates endorsed the resignation of National Chairman Ralph Okey Nwosu and the elevation of Nafiu Bala as acting chairman. Bala pledged to strengthen internal democracy, party structures, and alliances.
However, the candidates urged potential coalition leaders, including Atiku, Obi, and others, to formally resign from their current parties and register as ADC members in compliance with the Electoral Act.
The unfolding political and legal drama underscores the increasingly contentious run-up to Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, with the EFCC’s role now at the centre of a fierce debate over the boundaries between anti-corruption enforcement and political warfare.