The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has blamed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the controversy surrounding the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday in Abuja, Adebayo rejected calls for the resignation of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, saying that the anti-graft chief was merely carrying out his statutory responsibilities within the framework of the law.
He insisted, during the visit of the G100 delegation to the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja that President Tinubu should be the one to resign and be held responsible for any abuse of office arising from the matter. rather than the EFCC Chairman.
According to him, the EFCC chairman should not be made a scapegoat for what he described as executive interference in the affairs of an independent law enforcement agency.
The EFCC had obtained a court order to freeze the official bank accounts of the Osun State Government as part of an active statutory investigation.
President Tinubu subsequently issued a public directive ordering the EFCC to unfreeze and reverse its actions against the state accounts, faulting the timing of such action, especially that the off cycle governorship election is few days away on August 15.
“The person who should resign is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I don’t have enough evidence to suggest that the EFCC chairman should resign. The buck stops on the President’s table,” Adebayo said.
He said that law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Armed Forces, operate under extremely difficult circumstances and should not be subjected to political attacks whenever controversies arise.
Drawing from his experience as a legal practitioner, Adebayo said he had represented clients in matters involving the EFCC and had consistently defended the independence of anti-corruption institutions irrespective of the government in power.
The SDP presidential flag bearer recalled that he had supported successive EFCC leaderships beginning from the tenure of Nuhu Ribadu and stressed that the commission should be strengthened rather than weakened.
On the freezing of Osun State’s accounts, Adebayo argued that the commission could not have acted unilaterally without obtaining the necessary judicial authorisation.
According to him, if the EFCC improperly secured an order to freeze the accounts, the Osun State Government possesses sufficient legal remedies to challenge the decision before the courts.
He said, “If EFCC wrongly froze the account of Osun State Government, there are legal remedies to unfreeze it, including obtaining damages against the commission.”
He cited the case involving SDP National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, whom he said had successfully challenged actions taken by the EFCC through the courts, arguing that legal processes remain the proper avenue for addressing disputes with law enforcement agencies.
Adebayo also recalled the party’s own legal battle after security operatives allegedly attempted to eject it from its national secretariat.
The SDP presidential candidate said rather than calling for the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police, the party sought judicial redress, eventually regaining possession of its offices through lawful means.
He, however, criticised President Tinubu over reports that he directed the EFCC to unfreeze Osun State’s accounts, describing such intervention as unconstitutional and a direct violation of the principle of separation of powers.
He argued that if the President indeed instructed the commission on how to handle an ongoing investigation, such conduct would amount to interference with the administration of justice.
According to him, the Attorney-General of the Federation is the appropriate political office holder empowered to advise law enforcement agencies on legal matters, while disputes involving state governments should be resolved through the courts.
“If Osun believes its accounts were wrongly frozen, the Attorney-General of Osun State can approach the same court that granted the freezing order or proceed to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation,” he said.
Adebayo further insisted that anti-corruption agencies should apply the law without discrimination, regardless of political affiliation.
He said the EFCC should investigate and prosecute vote-buying or financial crimes whether committed by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the SDP or any other political party.
“If an SDP member is caught buying votes, arrest him and prosecute him. We will never ask the EFCC to spare our members because of politics,” he said.
He maintained that under an SDP administration, law enforcement agencies would enjoy operational independence without political directives from the Presidency.
He said the EFCC should be free to investigate any individual or institution within the limits of the law, including the Presidency itself if credible evidence of wrongdoing exists.
Turning to recent remarks credited to President Tinubu following a meeting with Catholic bishops, Adebayo expressed disappointment over the President’s response to concerns raised by the clerics.
He argued that the delegation, which included prominent Catholic leaders, visited the President out of genuine concern for the country’s condition and deserved a more statesmanlike engagement.
He noted that religious leaders should continue speaking truth to power and praying for national leaders rather than becoming discouraged by official reactions.
Adebayo commended senior Catholic clerics for their longstanding contributions to national development and diplomacy, saying respected figures such as Cardinal John Onaiyekan command international respect and should be listened to rather than dismissed.
He also spoke extensively on Northern Nigeria, rejecting narratives portraying the region as a burden on the country.
He said the North possesses enormous agricultural land, abundant mineral resources, youthful manpower and significant economic potential, but has been held back by poor leadership and corruption.
He said, “The North is not Nigeria’s problem. The real problem is poor leadership. Every state in the North has enough resources to become prosperous under responsible governance.”
He argued that investments in education, agriculture and human capital development would transform the region into a major engine of national growth.
Commenting on ongoing discussions about opposition alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections, Adebayo dismissed debates over coalition arrangements as secondary, insisting that Nigeria’s Constitution ultimately provides for only one President at a time.
He said the priority should be ensuring that whoever emerges as President is capable of restoring accountability, respect for the rule of law and effective governance.
Adebayo noted that Nigerians across political parties had become dissatisfied with the current administration, alleging that the government’s handling of national issues had deepened public frustration.
He described the Tinubu administration as one overwhelmed by recurring crises and poor communication, arguing that government explanations of controversies often generated greater public concern than the original issues.
He said the 2027 election should present Nigerians with an opportunity to elect a government committed to transparency, institutional independence and constitutional governance, rather than one driven by executive interference in the work of public institutions.
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