APC Defends EFCC Over Osun Account Freeze

The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council in Osun State, Oluwole Oke, has defended the decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze the accounts of the Osun State Government shortly before the governorship election.

Speaking on Arise TV on Monday night, Oke maintained that the anti-corruption agency was acting within its statutory responsibilities and likely had reasons for taking the measure. He, however, praised President Bola Tinubu for ordering the release of the affected accounts, stressing that the development did not influence the APC’s position on the conduct and outcome of the election.

Oke argued that it would be inappropriate to criticise a legally established government agency for carrying out what it considered its investigative duties. According to him, the EFCC must have had reasons for placing restrictions on the state government’s accounts.

He further explained that the President’s directive to unfreeze the accounts did not necessarily mean the EFCC had discontinued whatever investigation led to the initial action.

“I want to commend Mr President for directing the agency to lift their decision. It doesn’t mean that they will not go ahead with their investigation,” Oke said, adding that he would not comment further because he did not have the full details of the matter.

The APC campaign council chief also rejected claims that the party benefited from undue federal influence during the Osun governorship election because it controls the government at the centre.

He maintained that political contests are primarily influenced by local dynamics rather than the strength of a political party at the federal level.

According to Oke, the presence of APC governors and other senior party figures in Osun during the election was simply an expression of solidarity with the party’s candidate and should not be interpreted as an attempt to manipulate the electoral process.

“Politics is local,” he stressed, arguing that it was natural for APC governors from other states to visit Osun and support their party’s candidate during the election.

According to Ireporter Online, the APC chieftain’s comments come amid continued political debate over the EFCC’s earlier action against the Osun State Government and the circumstances surrounding the recently concluded governorship election.