The Accord Party has called on the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to resign over the agency’s decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s bank account, describing the action as unlawful and an abuse of constitutional powers.
The party said the EFCC’s handling of the matter has damaged the credibility of the anti-graft agency and insisted that its chairman should step down or be removed from office.
The demand was made on Friday by the National Chairman of the Accord Party, Maxwell Mgbudem, during a press conference in Abuja.
The controversy began after the EFCC announced that it froze one of the Osun State Government’s accounts over an ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of public funds.
The commission said it had been investigating the state government since March 2026 and claimed that investigators observed large financial transfers from the account into several corporate entities while the investigation was ongoing.
However, the Osun State Government rejected the allegations, insisting that the account restriction was politically motivated and aimed at disrupting government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The situation took another turn after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the EFCC to return to court and seek the reversal of the freezing order, citing concerns over the timing of the action and the need to protect public confidence in the electoral process.
Reacting to the development, Mgbudem commended President Tinubu for intervening, saying the directive helped prevent what he described as a further erosion of the rule of law.
He, however, maintained that the EFCC chairman should take responsibility for the controversy.
According to him, the commission exceeded its constitutional powers by freezing the state’s account and brought unnecessary embarrassment to the Federal Government.
“Accordingly, Accord demands the immediate resignation of the EFCC chairman,” Mgbudem said.
He added that if Olukoyede refuses to resign voluntarily, President Tinubu should remove him from office to restore public confidence in the anti-corruption agency.
“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 stated.
Mgbudem also argued that there should be “no sacred cow” in efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and improve accountability within anti-corruption agencies.
Beyond the Osun account controversy, the Accord Party chairman urged security agencies, anti-graft institutions and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and perform their constitutional duties professionally.
He also appealed to President Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to facilitate the release of about 60 Accord Party members reportedly detained in Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa states.
The party insisted that democratic institutions must act fairly and within the law, especially as political activities intensify ahead of future elections.
