The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as baseless and misleading recent claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is being used by the Presidency to silence opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, the party condemned Atiku’s remarks, calling them “a deliberate attempt” to distort facts and malign national institutions.
The APC stressed that President Bola Tinubu remains committed to the rule of law and has never interfered with the operations of anti-corruption agencies.
According to the statement, the EFCC continues to function independently, without political interference or bias.
Oladejo further criticised Atiku for allegedly undermining institutions he once claimed to support during his time in office.
“The APC has no hand in the operations of the EFCC, which continues to act within its legal mandate to investigate and prosecute financial crimes irrespective of political affiliations.
“It is particularly disturbing that a former Vice President who once claimed to be a champion of anti-corruption is now attacking the very institutions that are working to sanitize Nigeria’s political and economic landscape. The EFCC is not a political tool; it is a statutory body empowered to act on credible intelligence and evidence. Those who have nothing to hide should have no reason to fear,” he said.
The party advised Atiku to focus on addressing lingering concerns about his own public record.
“Rather than peddle unfounded conspiracy theories, we advise Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to focus on clearing the many unanswered questions surrounding his own public record, especially as Nigerians continue to demand accountability from past leaders,” Oladejo said.
Reaffirming its electoral strength, the APC stated it does not require underhanded tactics to secure victory at the polls.
Dismissing Atiku’s remarks, the APC called on Nigerians to ignore what it termed “Atiku’s outburst” and support the ongoing national efforts to fight corruption and build a more prosperous country.
“Let it be known that the APC is not intimidated by the opposition, nor does it require underhanded tactics to win elections. Our party continues to enjoy the confidence of the Nigerian people through purposeful governance, infrastructural development, and social investment under President Tinubu.
“In a democratic setting, law enforcement agencies must be allowed to do their jobs without interference or blackmail. Atiku’s outburst is an unfortunate reflection of a politician still reeling from repeated electoral defeats and seeking relevance through sensationalism.
“We urge Nigerians to ignore this baseless allegation and continue to support the ongoing efforts to build a safer, more prosperous, and corruption-free nation,” Oladejo added.
