As tension continues rising over the November 15 Osun State Gubernatorial election, the Accord Party has demanded the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Ola Olukoyede.
Addressing a world press conference in Abuja on Friday, Accord National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, accused the anti-graft agency of partisanship and interference in the build-up to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
The National chairman made it clear that the party had lost confidence in the leadership of the commission.
Mgbudem noted: “Having demonstrated unprecedented partisanship in the Osun State politics, assaulted the sensibilities of fellow compatriots and brought the nation to ridicule and disrepute before the international community, Accord has lost confidence in the current leadership of the EFCC,”
While insisting that the EFCC chairman must step down, he called on President Bola Tinubu to remove him if he refused to resign.
According to him, the commission exceeded its statutory powers when it restricted the state government’s account on August 5, and argued that the action is capable of undermining confidence in public institutions.
“For embarrassing the President, the party, the government and people of Osun State and fellow citizens, the EFCC chairman should toe the path of honour and tender his resignation.
“If he fails to resign, President Tinubu should sack him immediately to restore the integrity of the anti-graft agency,” he insisted.
The Accord chairman observed that the freezing of account controversy came amid what the party described as months of intimidation and violence against its members and supporters in Osun.
“EFCC joined the Osun political fray hoping to succeed where the earlier compromised State Police Command failed by deliberately turning the law upside down to justify its unconstitutional action that threatened the foundations of the country’s emerging democracy,” he alleged.
He, however, commended Tinubu for intervening and directing that the restriction be lifted.
“Accord welcomes President Tinubu’s timely intervention in this critical national issue and urges security agencies, anti-graft commissions, electoral umpire and relevant democratic institutions to strictly abide by their rules of engagement, statutory duties and democratic ethics,” Mgbudem said.
The party however appealed to the President to order tens of their supporters and members being detained by the police to guarantee equa opportunities and elimination of all forms of intimidation.
Turning to INEC, the party asked the commission to adequately test electoral materials and systems before polling day to avoid technical or operational failures.
The Accord Party noted that the poll was particularly important because it would be the last off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections.
It further called on civil society groups, international observers, the Nigerian Bar Association, the media, development partners and opposition parties to closely monitor the election.
“The people of Osun State deserve nothing less than an election whose outcome genuinely reflects their freely expressed democratic choice,” the National chairman demanded.
