The Accord Party has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, over the controversy surrounding the freezing of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts.
The party made the demand on Friday while commending President Bola Tinubu for directing the anti-graft agency to reverse the account freeze.
In a statement, the party’s National Chairman, Mgbudem, accused Olukoyede of bringing the EFCC into disrepute through what he described as partisan conduct in Osun State politics.
Mgbudem argued that the EFCC chairman should step aside to restore public confidence in the anti-corruption agency.
“Having demonstrated unprecedented partisanship in Osun State politics, Accord has lost confidence in the current leadership of the EFCC,” he said.
He added that if Olukoyede fails to resign voluntarily, President Tinubu should remove him from office.
The party also urged security agencies, anti-corruption bodies and other democratic institutions to remain neutral and operate strictly within the law as the Osun governorship election approaches.
Mgbudem cautioned against using federal institutions to intimidate or suppress political opponents, stressing that the electoral process should not be militarised.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the governorship election is free, fair and credible.
The Accord Party further urged civil society organisations, election observers, the media and opposition parties to remain vigilant against actions capable of undermining the credibility and integrity of the poll.
The controversy over the Osun accounts began on Wednesday after the EFCC froze accounts belonging to the state government. The commission defended the action as part of its statutory responsibility to investigate suspected financial crimes.
However, President Tinubu subsequently directed the EFCC to return to court and seek the vacation of the order freezing the accounts, expressing concern over the timing of the action so close to the governorship election.
Tinubu also noted that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to the Presidency, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of them.
