…ADC Describes Commission’s Action As Political Terrorism, Threat To Democracy
Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has slammed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of Osun State government’s account, insisting that the anti-graft agency lacks the power to tamper with the finances of a constitutionally elected administration just days before the governorship election.
Adeleke reacted on Wednesday following reports that the EFCC placed one of the Osun State Government’s accounts with First Bank on “Post No Debit” restriction 10 days before the August 15 governorship poll.
The account was said to be among those used for government financial operations, including salary payments.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the action as unconstitutional, reckless and politically driven.
“You have no right to freeze Osun State Government accounts. This is a democratically elected government and not a criminal enterprise,” the governor said.
He argued that any attempt to freeze government accounts at such a critical period amounted to an assault on democracy and an attempt to paralyse governance ahead of the election.
According to him, the state had received credible information that the EFCC was planning to extend the action to other government accounts and even to accounts belonging to top government officials.
“The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to cripple government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election. If true, it amounts to the height of lawlessness,” Adeleke stated.
The governor warned that salaries, pensions and ongoing public projects could be affected if the restriction remained in place, insisting that the people of Osun should not suffer because of what he called “political intimidation.”
Adeleke further accused unnamed political actors of using federal agencies to destabilise his administration before voters go to the polls.
“This is a threat to democracy and a dangerous precedent. Federal institutions must not be turned into instruments for electoral manipulation,” he said.
The Osun State Government said it has directed its legal team to immediately challenge the action in court, maintaining that no valid court order authorising the freezing of the account had been served on the state.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), on its part, condemned the freezing of statutory allocations to the local governments in Osun State, describing the action as “political terrorism” and accusing the Federal Government of using state institutions to weaken the opposition ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party alleged that the withholding of local government funds was part of a broader campaign to undermine the Osun State Government and impose political control through federal power.
According to the ADC, the decision to freeze the allocations is not an administrative or legal matter but a deliberate political strategy designed to punish the people of Osun State and tilt the political landscape in favour of the ruling APC.
The party argued that the action would have severe consequences for governance at the grassroots, affecting the payment of workers’ salaries, primary healthcare services, education, rural infrastructure and other essential public services.
The ADC further alleged that the freezing of local government funds forms part of a wider pattern of intimidation, which it said includes the continued occupation of local government councils by unelected APC loyalists, the arrest of opposition politicians, and the alleged use of armed political thugs operating with the protection of security agencies.
It expressed concern that political violence and intimidation had become increasingly entrenched in the state, alleging that armed groups linked to the APC had been allowed to terrorise communities while security agencies failed to act impartially.
The party also raised concerns over reports that some opposition members had been arrested for political reasons, insisting that such actions undermine democratic values and the rule of law.
Warning against what it described as the growing misuse of federal institutions for partisan purposes, the ADC said no ruling party should treat electoral contests as military campaigns or opposition-controlled states as occupied territories.
“Political opponents are not enemy combatants. Opposition-controlled states are not occupied territories. Public institutions do not belong to whichever party temporarily controls the federal government,” the statement said.
The opposition party called for the immediate restoration of all statutory allocations due to Osun’s local governments, an end to what it described as federal intimidation of the state, and the restoration of constitutional order.
The ADC maintained that the people of Osun State should be allowed to determine their political future through a free and fair democratic process without interference or coercion.
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