Opposition leaders raise the alarm over threat to multi-party democracy

A file image of former Anambra Governor Peter Obi andex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar

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A coalition of prominent opposition leaders has accused the Federal Government of using anti-corruption agencies to intimidate and persecute opposition figures, warning that the trend poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

In a joint statement on Sunday, the leaders accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of weaponising state institutions, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, to persecute political opponents under the guise of fighting corruption.

The statement was jointly signed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President and National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark; former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi; former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George; and former Minister of State for Defence, Lawal Batagarawa.

“Nigerians have witnessed what many now describe as a covert, undemocratic agenda: to ensure that all state governments fall under the control of the President’s party – not through transparent electoral contests, but by secretly intimidating opposition governors via the anti-corruption apparatus until they succumb and defect.

“Recent defections of opposition governors into the ruling party have reinforced public suspicion that political pressure, not ideological or personal persuasion, is driving this realignment.

“This pattern forms part of a broader project that targets not only elected leaders but also key opposition figures perceived as architects of emerging coalitions ahead of the 2027 general election.

“We must warn that this project, if allowed to continue unchecked, poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s democratic future,” the statement read.

The leaders further alleged a pattern of selective enforcement by the EFCC, claiming that allegations against members of the ruling party were often overlooked, while accusations against opposition figures were aggressively pursued and subjected to media trial.

They cited past public statements by a former ruling party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, that “once you have joined APC, all your sins are forgiven,” which they said had come to symbolise public perceptions of unequal application of anti-corruption laws.

“A few recent examples reinforce this perception,” they added. “Months ago, a minister was implicated in a financial scandal so blatant that only sustained public outrage forced her resignation.

“Yet, long after stepping down, she has neither been charged nor arraigned by the EFCC and is now actively involved in the President’s re-election campaign.

“Similarly, another minister remained in office despite the university he claimed to have attended, publicly denying his academic certificate. He, too, resigned only after intense public pressure. Months later, no charges have been filed.

“This selective enforcement undermines the credibility of anti-corruption efforts and erodes public trust in national institutions,” the statement added.

As part of their demands, the opposition leaders called on the Attorney General of the Federation, in consultation with the National Assembly, to establish an independent review body to examine the public accounts of the federal, state and local governments from 2015 to 2025.

They said the proposed body should have unrestricted access to public financial records, publish its findings, and expose patterns of selective prosecution while recommending reforms to strengthen the EFCC.

The proposed review panel, they said, should be chaired by an eminent judge and include representatives from civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Bankers, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the anti-graft agencies, the Police, the DSS, the Armed Forces, and all political parties represented in the National Assembly.

The opposition leaders also proposed embedding anti-corruption operatives directly into government payment and expenditure processes at all levels of government to prevent, rather than merely punish, financial crimes.

Calling on Nigerians to defend democracy, the signatories said they would, in the coming weeks, engage foreign partners, diplomatic missions and international organisations to express concern over what they described as the growing politicisation of Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies.

They appealed to citizens across party, regional and religious lines to remain vigilant, insisting that Nigeria “belongs to all of us – not to a single party or a single leader.”

The statement follows the detention of a former AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Malami has been in detention since Monday after failing to meet the bail conditions set by the EFCC.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that he is being investigated for 18 offences, including alleged abuse of office and terrorism financing.

The ADC had on Saturday accused the anti-graft agency of playing politics with the revocation of the bail earlier granted to him.

But the agency said on Saturday, Malami was initially granted administrative bail on November 28, 2025, but repeatedly failed to comply with conditions despite being granted extensions on health grounds.

EFCC said Malami was eventually invited again on December 8, 2025, and detained pending full compliance with the outstanding bail terms.

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