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• Move not political, anti-graft agency says
• It’s political terrorism -ADC
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja and Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Political tension ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election escalated yesterday as the state government challenged an alleged directive by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze its bank account, describing the move as a breach of due process and constitutional governance.
The account, domiciled with First Bank and reportedly used for the payment of workers’ salaries, was said to have been placed on “Post No Debit” status by the anti-graft agency.
The development has heightened tension in the state, coming less than two weeks before the August 15 governorship poll.
The restriction followed an earlier warning by Governor Ademola Adeleke that the EFCC was planning to move against the accounts of the state government and some senior officials of his administration.
The development has sparked fresh political controversy, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) accusing the Federal Government of using state institutions to mount pressure on the opposition-controlled state, while the EFCC insisted that its actions were based on lawful procedures and not politically motivated.
EFCC its decision was triggered by alleged suspicious movement of public funds running into billions of naira, amid an ongoing investigation into the handling of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.
EFCC said it had been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged fraudulent handling of the funds, stressing that the freezing of the account was not politically motivated or connected to the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, explained that the Commission was compelled to place a Post No Debit order on the account after detecting what it described as “precipitate and unwarranted” movement of funds to different suspicious accounts from August 2, 2026.
Governor Adeleke’s party, Accord Party, however, described the action of the EFCC as injustice, illegality, impunity and recklessness, adding that it shall not stand.
AP National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem, in a statement yesterday, claimed that EFCC’s action is part of the wider plot to use the police and federal agencies to capture Osun State for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mgbudem said: “This unconstitutional action of the EFCC shall be challenged in court as the temple of justice and last hope of all aggrieved citizens.
“In a haste to cripple the state, the anti-graft agency could not obtain a court order to freeze the government accounts conscious of the fact that the court would not grant it.
“It is obvious that EFCC is acting a script along with the police in the state to paralyse and frustrate government activities to pave way for the opposition APC. The timing of this grand plot to destabilise the state ahead of the gubernatorial poll is evident.
“Accord had earlier raised alarm of the plot to deploy the federal might to subdue Osun residents and make the state ungovernable. The EFCC reprehensible action days to the crucial election is one of them. Like other plots against the good people of Osun State it shall fail.
“Accord is confident that the rule of law will again prevail as obtainable in the infamous plot to de-register the party along with four others.
“Nigerians will continue to resist glaring assaults on the nation’s hard-earned democracy by reactionary forces.”
He called on President Bola Tinubu to allow a free, fair, credible and peaceful governorship election in Osun State on 15th August 2026, by ensuring that the security agencies particularly the police are neutral, impartial in their conduct before, during and after the poll.
The development also came as the Nigeria Police Force announced the deployment of 15,000 personnel across the state to secure the August 15 governorship election, warning politicians and other stakeholders against actions capable of undermining the credibility of the exercise.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, who addressed journalists in Osogbo, said the state government was informed through its banker that the EFCC had issued a directive to freeze the account of the Osun State Government.
According to him, the action was taken without a court order, raising concerns over the rule of law and the constitutional rights of sub-national governments.
“This morning, we received a letter from our banker, forwarding a letter from the EFCC, instructing the bank to freeze Osun State Government account.
“This action was taken without any court order,” Adeleke stated.
The governor said government agencies must operate within the confines of the law, stressing that due process remained a fundamental requirement in a democratic society.
“The rule of law must always prevail in a democracy,” he said.
Adeleke said his administration would not accept any action by federal institutions that undermined the constitutional authority of the state government.
He challenged the EFCC Chairman to explain the reasons behind the alleged directive and provide evidence to justify the action.
The governor added that he had directed the state Attorney-General to challenge the EFCC’s action at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
ADC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the action as “political terrorism” and accused the Federal Government of using state institutions to weaken the Osun State Government.
“The ADC condemns in the strongest possible terms the freezing of the statutory allocations due to the local governments of Osun State. This is not an administrative decision or a legal dispute. It is political terrorism by the Bola Tinubu-led APC government carried out with the instruments of the Nigerian state in order to achieve the singular objective of undermining the state government ahead of the coming governorship election,” the party stated.
The opposition party warned that any action affecting the finances of the state could impact essential services, including payment of workers’ salaries, primary healthcare delivery, education and rural infrastructure.
It called for the restoration of what it described as statutory allocations due to local governments in the state, urging federal institutions to respect constitutional order.
The ADC further argued that political disagreements should not be allowed to undermine democratic governance.
“No ruling party should ever confuse electoral competition with military conquest. Political opponents are not enemy combatants. Opposition-controlled states are not occupied territories. Public institutions do not belong to whichever party temporarily controls the federal government,” the party said.
Meanwhile, security preparations for the Osun governorship election have intensified, with the police announcing a major deployment across the state.
Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Samuel Erale Etaifo, disclosed that no fewer than 15,000 personnel would be deployed for the exercise.
Etaifo said his early deployment to Osun followed rising political tension and reports of violent incidents in some areas.
Speaking during an interactive session with officers assigned for election duties at the Police Officers’ Mess in Osogbo, he warned politicians, party supporters and security personnel against any action capable of compromising the electoral process.
“Arrested violators of electoral laws will be moved straight to Abuja. No one arrested here in Osun during or after the election will be taken lightly. This election is a federal assignment, and anyone arrested will be transferred to Abuja. That is the directive,” he said.
The police chief said the security arrangement would involve conventional police officers, specialised units, the Police Mobile Force (PMF), K-9 personnel and medical teams.
“As I speak with you, we are expecting nothing less than 15,000 officers for this election. This includes conventional police officers, specialists, the K-9 section, medical personnel and the Police Mobile Force,” Etaifo stated.
He added that senior police officers, including the Deputy Inspector-General of Police and Assistant Inspector-General of Police overseeing the operation, would participate in the security arrangement.
Etaifo said his early deployment was based on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police due to the heightened political atmosphere and security concerns ahead of the election.
He urged officers deployed for the poll to remain neutral, professional and committed to protecting the rights of citizens.
The unfolding events have further intensified political attention in Osun as parties prepare for the governorship election, with the EFCC controversy, security deployment and campaign activities expected to shape the atmosphere ahead of the August 15 poll.
