Presidency Rejects Claims of Democratic Erosion, Defends Tinubu and EFCC

The Presidency has dismissed allegations by opposition politicians accusing President Bola Tinubu of undermining multi-party democracy and weaponising anti-corruption agencies, describing the claims as baseless and politically motivated.

In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the administration said the opposition was engaging in scapegoating following political setbacks.

The Presidency maintained that recent defections to the ruling party were voluntary and constitutionally protected, stressing that freedom of association allows politicians to change party affiliations without coercion.

According to the statement, politicians joining the ruling party are doing so of their own accord, driven by what it described as the visible outcomes of the administration’s reform agenda. It added that similar waves of defections occurred during previous administrations without being framed as threats to democracy.

The Presidency also rejected claims that the EFCC was being used to harass political opponents, insisting that the agency operates independently within the limits of the law.

While noting that it does not speak for the EFCC, the Presidency emphasised that the commission has a statutory mandate to investigate and prosecute financial crimes irrespective of political affiliation.

It described allegations of “weaponisation” as distractions, arguing that such narratives stem from the absence of credible campaign issues against the current administration.

The statement further noted that some signatories to the opposition’s claims had faced investigations before the current administration assumed office, while others had previously been linked to international financial crime probes.

Warning against efforts to undermine public institutions for political gain, the Presidency said the fight against corruption requires collective responsibility and respect for due process.

“No one is above the law, and political affiliation should not shield anyone from accountability,” the statement said, citing Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list as evidence of progress in anti-corruption efforts.