By Peter Adelowo
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign, accusing him of interfering in the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Adebayo made the call while reacting to reports that President Tinubu directed the EFCC to unfreeze the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.
He said he does not support calls for the resignation of EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, insisting that the anti-graft agency should be allowed to carry out its constitutional responsibilities without political interference.
According to him, if the EFCC wrongly froze the Osun State accounts, the state government should challenge the action in court instead of seeking political intervention.
Adebayo argued that the EFCC operates under judicial supervision and that anyone dissatisfied with its actions has legal remedies, including applying for the accounts to be unfrozen or seeking damages in court.
He maintained that the President has no constitutional power to direct the EFCC on how to conduct investigations, describing such interference as a violation of the rule of law.
The SDP presidential candidate said his party has consistently respected law enforcement agencies, even when it disagreed with their actions, choosing legal action instead of attacking institutions.
He added that under an SDP administration, anti-corruption agencies would be allowed to perform their duties independently without political directives.
On the recent meeting between President Tinubu and Catholic bishops, Adebayo said the clerics offered sincere advice in the national interest and should not be criticised for speaking the truth.
He urged religious leaders not to give up on Nigeria, but to continue praying for the country and speaking truth to those in authority.
Speaking on development in Northern Nigeria, Adebayo described the region as one of the country’s greatest assets, saying its vast land, population and natural resources position it to drive agriculture and economic growth with responsible leadership.
He blamed Nigeria’s challenges on poor leadership rather than regional differences, insisting that every part of the country has the potential to prosper under accountable governance.
On calls for a single opposition presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections, Adebayo said the Constitution provides for only one president at a time, urging Nigerians to focus on electing a competent leader rather than debating political arrangements.
He also criticised the National Assembly for allegedly placing personal interests above those of Nigerians, insisting that citizens across political parties should unite to ensure better leadership and strengthen democratic institutions.
