December 15, (THEWILL) — The Presidency has dismissed claims by opposition politicians that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat, insisting that recent political defections and ongoing anti-corruption investigations are lawful, voluntary and firmly rooted in constitutional provisions and the rule of law.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described claims by some opposition politicians as baseless and driven by desperation, noting that individuals defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) did so voluntarily.
According to the Presidency, Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of association, including the right of politicians to change party affiliations without coercion. It stressed that no politician was pressured to join the APC, adding that the defections were largely motivated by the “noticeable gains” of President Bola Tinubu’s reform programme.
Onanuga queried claims that democracy was endangered by the defections, recalling that between 2000 and 2015, politicians moved in large numbers to the then-dominant Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without similar concerns being raised.
Addressing accusations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was being weaponised against opposition figures, Onanuga reaffirmed the agency’s independence, stressing that it operates strictly within its statutory mandate.
“The EFCC is an independent institution established by law to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, irrespective of political affiliation or social status,” he said, adding that President Tinubu does not issue directives to anti-corruption agencies on whom to investigate, arrest or prosecute.
Onanuga noted that investigations by the EFCC have exposed individuals with questions to answer over their stewardship of public funds, and described attempts to politicise accountability efforts as distractions by politicians “running short of campaign issues.”
He further emphasised that prosecutions are conducted by courts of law, not the executive, and that those found not guilty would be exonerated accordingly.
Highlighting Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, Onanuga said the achievement underscored the effectiveness of ongoing anti-corruption reforms and the importance of allowing institutions to function without political interference.
He also observed that some signatories to the opposition’s claims had been investigated or prosecuted by the EFCC long before President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, while others had been implicated in international money laundering cases.
The Presidential aide further urged political actors to desist from undermining national institutions in a bid to evade accountability, stressing that the fight against corruption remains a collective responsibility.
“No one is above the law. Political affiliation should not be a shield against accountability”, he declared.
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