Accord Party EFCC resignation call grows after the party faulted the Osun account freeze and demanded Ola Olukoyede’s exit
The Accord Party has demanded the immediate resignation of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Chairman Ola Olukoyede over the controversy surrounding the freezing of Osun State Government accounts, accusing the anti-corruption agency of undermining public trust ahead of the state’s governorship election.
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The party made the call on Friday during a press conference in Abuja, while also commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the EFCC to withdraw the court order that restricted access to the state government’s accounts.
Accord National Chairman, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, said the President’s intervention was necessary to protect democratic institutions and prevent actions that could affect confidence in the electoral process.
However, he said the party had lost confidence in the EFCC leadership, alleging that the commission’s decision to freeze the accounts amounted to political interference.
“Having demonstrated unprecedented partisanship in Osun State politics, Accord has lost confidence in the current leadership of the EFCC,” Mgbudem said.
The party chairman argued that Olukoyede should step aside because the development had allegedly affected the reputation of the anti-graft agency. He added that if the EFCC chairman refused to resign, President Tinubu should consider removing him from office.
The Accord Party EFCC resignation call comes after the EFCC froze Osun State Government accounts shortly before the August 15 governorship election, citing concerns over suspected financial transactions.
The commission had maintained that the action was part of its statutory responsibility to investigate possible financial offences and was not connected to political activities.
The controversy intensified after President Tinubu instructed the EFCC to return to court and seek the reversal of the order. The President explained that decisions taken by federal institutions are often associated with his administration, regardless of whether he was directly involved in the initial process.
Mgbudem praised the President’s response but maintained that the circumstances surrounding the account freeze required accountability from the EFCC leadership.
The Accord Party also appealed to security agencies, anti-corruption bodies and other public institutions to maintain neutrality throughout the election period.
The party warned against the use of government institutions to intimidate political opponents, stressing that democratic processes must be protected through fairness and adherence to the rule of law.
It further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, election observers, civil society organisations and the media to remain watchful and support efforts towards a credible Osun governorship election.
The account freeze controversy has triggered reactions from several political actors, with some questioning the timing of the EFCC action, while others have defended the commission’s mandate to investigate alleged financial misconduct.
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As campaigning continues ahead of the Osun poll, the dispute has added to broader debates about the independence of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies and the role of federal institutions during election periods.
