Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to target political opponents.

In a statement shared on X, Atiku described the detention of former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, as a politically motivated move aimed at weakening the opposition.

According to him, the government is weaponizing the anti-corruption fight to pressure opposition leaders into joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It seems anyone associated with the opposition is suddenly faced with phantom corruption allegations,” Atiku said. “And once they yield to the political agenda of President Tinubu, their so-called offences are overlooked.”

The former vice president, who played a key role in the creation of the EFCC during his tenure, criticized the alleged politicization of the agency. He warned that such tactics erode institutional credibility, fuel corruption, and threaten Nigeria’s democracy.

Atiku further claimed that recent actions by anti-graft agencies suggest a deliberate push toward a “one-party dictatorship,” urging Nigerians, civil society groups, and the international community to speak out against the trend.

“Fighting corruption is important, but turning it into a political weapon must be condemned,” he added. “We will not bow to these anti-democratic tactics.”