President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately approach the court to vacate the order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.

The President’s directive followed the controversy generated by the EFCC’s move to freeze the state government’s accounts, coming days before the Osun State governorship election.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said he was concerned about the timing of the action, noting that steps taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him as President, even when he may not have prior knowledge of such actions.

Tinubu said that although he was yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to approach the court for the freezing order, he believed the timing of the action was inappropriate.

” Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the Federal Government is being used to interfere with the election,” he said.

The President said that he was compelled to intervene in the matter in the overriding public interest to preserve confidence in the integrity, credibility and fairness of the democratic process.

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the timing of the action, arguing that freezing the state’s principal operational account just days before the election raises concerns about the neutrality of institutions expected to uphold the rule of law.

” The decision could disrupt governance, delay the payment of workers’ salaries, affect the delivery of essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation ahead of the polls,” said Atiku.

“It is impossible to ignore the implications of freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election,” he said.

The former vice president maintained that while anti-corruption agencies have a duty to investigate alleged wrongdoing, such actions must follow due process and should not create the impression that state institutions are being used to influence political contests.

Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Imole Youth Mobilisation Council, David Adeleke (popularly known as Davido), has advocated for peaceful and violence-free elections in Osun State.

He made the call while addressing the leadership of the Imole Youth Mobilisation Council, including representatives of student unions and youth parliaments, at the Imole Campaign House in Osogbo.

Davido urged contestants and their supporters to embrace peace and allow the votes of genuine electorate to determine the winner of the election.

He also appealed to the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, in his capacity as Chairman of the Osun APC National Campaign Committee, to uphold democratic principles and ensure electoral integrity during the polls in the state.