The Accord Party has demanded the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of the Osun State Government’s bank account, while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ordering the reversal of the directive.

National Chairman of the party, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, made the demand on Friday in Abuja while addressing a world press conference ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.

Mgbudem described the EFCC’s action as unconstitutional and an overreach of its statutory powers, alleging that it had further heightened concerns over the possibility of federal institutions being used to influence the outcome of the election.

According to him, the party had lost confidence in the leadership of the anti-graft agency following what he described as its “unprecedented partisanship” in the Osun political crisis.

“Accordingly, Accord demands the immediate resignation of the EFCC chairman. The EFCC chairman should toe the path of honour and tender his resignation. If he fails to resign, President Tinubu should sack him immediately to restore the integrity of the anti-graft agency,” he said.

Mgbudem said the commission’s action had embarrassed the Federal Government and brought the country into ridicule before the international community.

He, however, commended President Tinubu for intervening after appeals from the Osun State Government, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

He said the President’s directive to unfreeze the account was a timely intervention that would help prevent further escalation of political tension in the state.

Accord also urged security agencies, anti-graft bodies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other democratic institutions to operate strictly within their statutory mandates and uphold democratic principles.

The party chairman alleged that Accord members and supporters had suffered attacks, arrests, intimidation and harassment in the state ahead of the election.

He claimed that some party members had been killed or injured, while the party’s offices and campaign structures were allegedly attacked and billboards destroyed.

Mgbudem accused suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters of involvement in some of the alleged attacks and claimed that security agencies had failed to adequately protect Accord members despite receiving reports of planned incidents.

He called for an end to what he described as the militarisation of the electoral process, insisting that security agencies should remain neutral and professional.

“Electoral contest is not a warfare. It should not be militarized by deploying federal apparatuses to suppress, subdue and oppress political opponents and their supporters to favour a party that has been rejected by the people,” he said.

The Accord chairman urged the people of Osun State to freely exercise their right to choose their governor, saying the outcome of the election must reflect the will of the electorate.

He also called on INEC to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive election, stressing that the commission must ensure that all electoral materials and systems were adequately tested before the poll.

Mgbudem described the Osun governorship election as particularly important because it would be the last off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections.

He called on civil society organisations, election observer groups, the Nigerian Bar Association, the media, development partners and the international community to monitor the election and speak out against actions capable of undermining its credibility.

The party further urged stakeholders to prevent violence, intimidation, voter suppression, vote-buying, manipulation and unlawful interference by security agencies.

According to Mgbudem, security personnel must focus on protecting lives, maintaining law and order and creating a safe environment for voters rather than influencing the electoral process in favour of any political party or candidate.

He also appealed to President Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police to release what he described as the remaining 60 Accord members detained by the police in Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa states.

He said the release of the detainees would help reduce political tension ahead of the election.

Mgbudem urged Osun voters to come out en masse on August 15 and vote for Governor Ademola Adeleke, whom he described as a performing and visionary governor deserving of a second term.

He said Accord remained confident of victory despite alleged attempts to frustrate the Adeleke administration.

The party chairman insisted that every vote must count and urged voters and stakeholders to protect the sanctity of the ballot.

“The people of Osun State deserve nothing less than an election whose outcome genuinely reflects their freely expressed democratic choice,” he said.

Mgbudem reiterated the party’s appreciation to President Tinubu for his intervention in the EFCC matter and urged all relevant authorities to ensure that the Osun governorship election was conducted peacefully and in accordance with the Constitution and Electoral Act (Tribune)

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