The Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, in Sokoto state has strongly condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s ,EFCC, arrest of Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, accusing the Federal Government under the All Progressives Congress ,APC, of using state institutions to conduct a political witch-hunt.
Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto state and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was detained by the EFCC on Monday, August 11, 2025. The arrest centers on allegations of fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to about ₦189 billion during his tenure as governor. The EFCC noted that this purported misconduct violated the Money Laundering ,Prevention & Prohibition, Act, 2022.
However, the PDP, through its Sokoto state Publicity Secretary Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, dismissed the arrest as a politically motivated effort aimed at silencing prominent opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to the party, the investigation is a “fishing expedition” resurrecting old allegations that had previously yielded no substantial evidence.
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The PDP accused the APC-led federal government of selectively prosecuting opposition figures like Tambuwal while ignoring genuine corruption cases involving members of the ruling party. The statement emphasized that Tambuwal’s administration was characterized by fiscal discipline and transparency, highlighting his unblemished integrity and moral uprightness.
“This is part of a wider plan by the APC-led government to intimidate political opponents and weaken the growing coalition of progressive forces opposing President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” the party said. They called on the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to operate independently and above partisan politics for the good of the nation.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress ,ADC, an opposition coalition looking to challenge the government in 2027, has also expressed concern as EFCC intensified investigations targeting some of its senior leaders, escalating fears of political repression under the guise of anti-corruption efforts.
With these developments, the PDP has urged its supporters and the people of Sokoto to remain steadfast and law-abiding, vowing to continue pushing for democratic change despite the alleged repression.
The arrest and fallout from it have reignited debates over the politicization of anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, with critics warning that such actions undermine the fight against genuine corruption, skew justice, and destabilize the political landscape.
THE CONCLAVE
