The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of turning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into a political tool for targeting opposition politicians.
In a statement on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the EFCC’s recent actions — including reopening old cases and summoning opposition members — appear politically motivated.
According to Abdullahi, the EFCC was created to be a fearless and impartial defender of the Nigerian people’s trust, applying the law equally to all, regardless of political affiliation. However, he alleged that the agency now operates like “a department of the APC,” focusing its efforts on critics of the government.
The ADC accused the EFCC of selective prosecution, claiming that cases involving APC allies often disappear from public view, while opposition figures face renewed investigations. Abdullahi cited the example of a former governor whose alleged corruption probe was dropped after defecting to the APC.
“In today’s Nigeria, one’s guilt or innocence appears to depend on party membership, not evidence,” Abdullahi said, warning that this trend is undermining the credibility of both the EFCC and the broader anti-corruption campaign.
The party stressed that the EFCC is a national institution funded by taxpayers, not a private arm of any political party. It urged all stakeholders to safeguard public institutions from political capture.
“This dangerous practice erodes public trust in the EFCC and weakens the real fight against corruption. We must not allow our institutions to be hijacked for partisan purposes,” the statement read.
The ADC called for urgent reforms to guarantee the independence of anti-corruption bodies and restore citizens’ confidence in the justice system.
