Atiku condemns Osun account freeze as threat to democratic process

Atiku Abubakar, African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, has accused the administration of Bola Tinubu, the president, of converting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other law enforcement bodies into political instruments. Abubakar demanded an immediate and complete reversal of the financial freeze placed on the statutory allocation account of the Osun State Government.

Abubakar described the action as a grave assault on democracy. He warned that locking the operational accounts of the state barely days before the August 15 governorship poll risks disrupting basic governance, delaying civil service salary disbursements, and eroding public confidence in the electoral process.

Phrank Shaibu, spokesman for the former vice-president, issued a statement on Thursday asserting that law enforcement bodies must avoid creating any impression that they are deployed to influence political outcomes.

Federal backlash prompts executive reversal order
The operational freeze on the allocation account triggered swift political backlash across the country ahead of the upcoming election. Opposition platforms—including the ADC, Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party—condemned the decision as a partisan tactic, while federal officials maintained that the anti-graft agency acted strictly within its legal mandate.

Following the escalation of public controversy, Tinubu directed the EFCC to vacate the court order and lift the freeze.

“If there are legitimate concerns requiring investigation, the law provides due process,” Abubakar said. “Institutions established to enforce the law must never become instruments for creating fear or conferring political advantage.”

Abubakar added that the action reflects a recurring pattern where opposition-led states face coercive federal measures under the current administration. He stressed that anti-corruption mandates must never be weaponised for political gain, insisting that the electorate in Osun State alone should decide the governorship election.