The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s decision to assign the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party argued that allowing an executive agency to investigate a matter involving the Presidency could undermine public confidence in the outcome.
According to the ADC, the government should establish an independent panel made up of respected Nigerians to ensure transparency and credibility.
“A government that is drowning in scandals cannot be trusted to investigate itself,” Abdullahi said.
The party said while it welcomed President Tinubu’s decision to order an investigation, assigning the probe to the ICPC creates the impression that the government is investigating itself.
The ADC also accused the Presidency of appearing to have already reached a conclusion by describing the appointment letters and official documents linked to the PFIPC as forged before investigations have been concluded.
“One of the central questions that the investigation is expected to determine is whether the appointment letters and other documents… were genuinely issued, as he has claimed, or whether they were forged,” the statement read.
The party further called on the President to ask his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to temporarily step aside if officials within the Presidency are expected to be part of the investigation.
According to the ADC, such a move would help assure Nigerians that the probe would be free from interference.
“As long as he remains an active official of government, it creates the impression that the president is deliberately shielding a key party in this matter,” the party stated.
The ADC also urged the Federal Government to make the findings of the investigation public, insisting Nigerians deserve full disclosure of the facts surrounding the PFIPC controversy.
