By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Accord Party has commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reverse the freezing of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts, while demanding the immediate resignation of the EFCC Chairman over what it described as an unconstitutional action capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
Addressing a world press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Friday, National Chairman of Accord, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, accused the anti-graft agency of overstepping its constitutional mandate by ordering the freezing of the state’s accounts ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
He alleged that the action amounted to political interference and had exposed Nigeria to international ridicule.
According to Mgbudem, the President’s swift intervention to order the unfreezing of the accounts helped avert what he described as a deepening constitutional crisis.
The party said it welcomed Tinubu’s directive and urged all security agencies, anti-corruption institutions and electoral bodies to operate strictly within the law and remain politically neutral throughout the electoral process.
Accord, however, said it had lost confidence in the leadership of the EFCC, insisting that the agency’s chairman should resign honourably for allegedly embarrassing the Presidency and bringing the commission into disrepute.
The party further called on President Tinubu to dismiss the EFCC boss should he fail to step down voluntarily.
The party also alleged that its members and supporters in Osun State had been subjected to intimidation, harassment, arrests and violent attacks ahead of the governorship election.
It claimed that several party offices and campaign structures had been attacked, while accusing security agencies of failing to arrest those responsible despite prior notifications of planned attacks.
Accord said the deployment of a new Commissioner of Police to Osun by the Inspector-General of Police had raised hopes of improved security before, during and after the election.
The party also appealed to the President and the Inspector-General of Police to secure the immediate release of about 60 Accord members reportedly detained in Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa states, describing the move as necessary to ease political tension.
Throwing its weight behind Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the party urged voters to re-elect him for a second term, citing what it described as his transformational leadership and delivery of democratic dividends.
Mgbudem maintained that the people of Osun should be allowed to freely choose their governor without intimidation or interference from federal institutions.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair, credible and peaceful governorship election, stressing that adequate preparations must be made to prevent logistical failures or technical glitches.
The party urged security agencies to remain professional and impartial, warning against the use of state institutions to influence the outcome of the poll.
Accord further appealed to civil society organisations, election observers, the Nigerian Bar Association, development partners, the media and the international community to closely monitor the election and resist any attempt to undermine the democratic process.
Describing the Osun governorship election as the final off-cycle governorship poll before the 2027 general elections, the party said the credibility of the exercise would serve as a major test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
It expressed confidence of victory at the poll, saying Governor Adeleke had earned another mandate through his performance in office.
