HURIWA Accuses EFCC of Targeting Opposition Ahead of 2027 Polls
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of abandoning its statutory duties and acting as “the official attack dog” of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
HURIWA alleged that the Commission was using selective arrests and investigations to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Tuesday, the group condemned the EFCC’s interrogation and detention of former Sokoto State governor and serving senator, Aminu Tambuwal, over alleged fraudulent withdrawals totalling ₦189 billion. It described the move as “a politically-orchestrated smokescreen designed to intimidate and fracture the opposition coalition determined to unseat President Tinubu in 2027.”
National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the action formed part of “a calculated pattern of harassment” against key members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition, which recently declared its readiness to challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“Every discerning Nigerian can see the handwriting on the wall. The EFCC is no longer the fearless watchdog envisioned by law; it has been reduced to an obedient lapdog, deployed to do the dirty political work of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“What we are witnessing is not the fight against corruption, but the weaponisation of anti-graft powers to intimidate, blackmail, and dismember the opposition,” HURIWA stated.
The group noted that ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, had confirmed that at least three former governors in the coalition had been summoned by the EFCC in recent days — summons it described as politically motivated and based on stale cases rather than fresh evidence.
“This is the same EFCC that has conveniently forgotten corruption cases involving high-ranking APC members who defected from the opposition with entire state structures.
“The moment they join the ruling party, the files vanish, the media noise dies, and the investigations evaporate into thin air.
“Yet, opposition leaders with decade-old allegations are suddenly dragged back into the dock in the name of anti-corruption. This is not justice; this is selective political persecution,” Onwubiko said.
HURIWA argued that the timing of Tambuwal’s arrest, coming months after the coalition began strategic consultations, was “no coincidence.”
“This is a crude attempt to break the spine of the opposition before the 2027 contest even begins. It is part of a broader script to use every instrument of state – law enforcement, security agencies, and regulatory bodies – to secure Tinubu’s re-election by all crooked means,” the statement read.
The group rejected EFCC’s claims of impartiality, describing such statements as “insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians who have repeatedly witnessed the Commission being unleashed on perceived political enemies while ruling party loyalists enjoy immunity by association.”
According to HURIWA, selective prosecution undermines the fight against corruption and erodes the rule of law.
“Selective prosecution is the death of justice. When anti-corruption becomes a political sledgehammer rather than a blindfolded scale, the rule of law dies and tyranny thrives,” it warned.
The association called on Nigerians, civil society groups, professional bodies, and the media to resist what it described as a “dangerous slide into one-party dictatorship,” warning that unchecked abuse of state power could permanently damage Nigeria’s democracy.
“The EFCC is not the property of the APC, and it certainly is not a re-election task force for Bola Tinubu. It belongs to the Nigerian people and is funded by taxpayers.
“Every time it is misused for political vendetta, it robs the nation of credibility, scares away investment, and deepens public cynicism about governance,” HURIWA added.
It urged the National Assembly to summon EFCC leadership to explain why old cases against opposition figures were being revived while similar cases involving ruling party members remained dormant.
HURIWA also appealed to the international community, particularly Nigeria’s democratic partners, to take note of what it called “state-sponsored political persecution masquerading as anti-corruption.”
“Today it is Tambuwal and the ADC coalition; tomorrow it will be journalists, activists, and any citizen bold enough to challenge Tinubu’s government.
“We cannot afford to normalise this abuse of power. The EFCC must return to its legal mandate or be prepared to face sustained civil and legal resistance from the Nigerian people,” Onwubiko said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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