EFCC: PDP, ADC Condemn Tambuwal’s Arrest; It’s Intimidation

The Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says the arrest of a former Governor of the state, Aminu Tambuwal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is part of a larger plan by the federal government to intimidate opposition leaders in the country.

On Monday, the EFCC arrested Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives over allegation of money laundering to the tune of N189 billion. The former governor has since been detained by the Commission.

The PDP however said in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hasssan Sanyinnawal on Tuesday, that  the arrest of the former governor by the EFCC is an indication that the government is bent on using state security for harassment and repression of those considered to be opposed to the government.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, had earlier criticised the EFCC for taking the former governor into custody, describing the commission’s action as an intimidation of those speaking against the administration of President Tinubu.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party claimed that Tambuwal’s arrests is one of recent EFCC summons to senior members of the opposition coalition. The arrest was politically motivated and linked to their political affiliations, the party said.

Tambuwal the magazine reported is one of the opposition leaders in the country, who recently joined forces under the ADC, in their plan to wrestle power from the ruling APC and President Tinubu in 2027.

The PDP spokesman noted that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government’s  continued use of state apparatus to force the opposition to silent, is like embarking on a fishing expedition which cannot work. The party cannot be intimidated, the PDP said.

The party said it has an unshakable trust in Tambuwal integrity, describing the former governor’s current predicament as the handiwork of political opponents form the state and “Abuja” who are bent on smearing is image and silent him for speaking against the APC-led government.

Part of the statement: “The so-called investigation is nothing more than a fishing expedition, revived from an old phantom case that has failed to produce evidence in the past.

“It is the handiwork of political actors in Sokoto and Abuja who are desperate to smear Tambuwal’s enviable image and force him to abandon his stand against misrule.”.