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The Accord Party has called for the immediate resignation of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ola Olukoyede over the freezing of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts.
The party also urged President Bola Tinubu to remove Olukoyede if he refuses to resign, saying the move would help restore confidence in the anti-graft agency.
Accord National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem made the demand on Friday at a press conference held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Mgbudem commended Tinubu for directing the EFCC to return to court and lift the restriction on the state government’s accounts, describing the intervention as timely.
He said the party had lost confidence in the EFCC leadership, accusing the commission of showing partisanship in Osun politics ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Mgbudem said Accord believed the EFCC’s handling of the matter had damaged the agency’s reputation and embarrassed the country.
“Having demonstrated unprecedented partisanship in 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.
“Accordingly, Accord demands the immediate resignation of the EFCC chairman. 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 said.
The Accord chairman also urged security agencies, anti-corruption bodies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other institutions involved in the Osun election to remain impartial and operate within the law.
He warned against using federal institutions to intimidate political opponents, stressing that elections should be conducted as democratic contests rather than treated as warfare.
Mgbudem called on INEC to ensure a free, fair and credible election and properly test electoral materials ahead of the poll.
He also urged election observers, civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, the media, development partners and opposition parties to speak out against actions capable of undermining the credibility of the election.
The Accord chairman appealed to President Tinubu and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to release 60 party members whom Accord said were being detained in Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa states.
He said releasing the detainees would help ease political tensions ahead of the election and urged Osun residents to turn out to vote on August 15.
The controversy began after the EFCC froze the statutory accounts of the Osun State Government on Wednesday.
The commission defended the action, saying it was investigating suspected financial crimes and had acted within its legal powers. It also said it could restrict accounts for up to 72 hours without a court order before seeking judicial approval for any further restriction.
Tinubu subsequently directed the EFCC to return to court and vacate the order freezing the state government’s accounts, saying actions by federal agencies are often attributed to his administration even when he is not aware of them.
