Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the detention of former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, as a calculated attempt to intimidate and dismantle the opposition.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Atiku claimed the only reason Tambuwal was in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was his membership in the opposition coalition. He alleged that the commission was being used as a political weapon to pressure opposition leaders into defecting to the ruling party.
Atiku, who played a key role in the establishment of the EFCC during his time in government, said the agency’s mandate was never intended to serve partisan interests. He criticised the selective application of anti-corruption measures, arguing that while opposition figures face prosecution, members of the ruling party with similar allegations walk free.
He warned that such practices undermine the fight against corruption, foster impunity, and threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability. Atiku further alleged a pattern where anti-corruption agencies are deployed to force opposition governors into joining the ruling party.
While affirming his commitment to supporting genuine anti-graft efforts, Atiku urged stakeholders to reject what he called “anti-democratic machinations” aimed at creating a one-party state.
