Tinubu Reverses EFCC Action Ahead of Osun Election

Ahead of the gubernatorial election in Osun State scheduled for Saturday, President Bola Tinubu intervened by overruling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), directing a reversal of the freezing of the Osun State Government Statutory Allocation account. This decision came ten days before the election and was met with criticism regarding the independence of the EFCC.

Tinubu expressed embarrassment over the timing of the EFCC's action, which has intensified tensions in a state already plagued by violence, intimidation, and thuggery. The Inspector General of Police, Olatunde Disu, acknowledged existing issues of cultism and political violence, which have resulted in over two dozen deaths in the past year.

Thirteen out of thirty local government areas in Osun have been marked as high-risk due to recurring violence. The election is significant as it is the last off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections, serving as a litmus test for electoral bodies, political parties, and security agencies.