Oyo State Governor, His Excellency Seyi Makinde, has thrown his weight behind Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, strongly condemning what he described as the selective deployment of federal institutions to disrupt governance in opposition-controlled states.
In a statement issued on Thursday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Governor Makinde reacted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) recent action of freezing an official Osun State Government account. He described the move as politically motivated and an abuse of institutional powers, particularly given its timing ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.
“The increasing use of federal institutions to disrupt governance in opposition states in Nigeria is condemnable,” Governor Makinde stated. “As I said in my last newsletter, no government is above scrutiny but when institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are utilised to witch hunt specific states or public office holders, it indicates that their investigations are selective and erodes public trust in these institutions.”
The Governor further argued that freezing an official state government account without due legal process exceeds the powers vested in the EFCC by Nigerian law. He noted that the timing of the action raises serious concerns about an attempt by the Federal Government to unduly influence the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.
Makinde called on federal institutions to remain faithful to their constitutional mandate by acting with fairness, professionalism, and political neutrality at all times. He urged all Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the international community to remain vigilant, stressing that democracy cannot thrive where institutions are perceived as instruments of political intimidation.
“Protecting the independence and credibility of our institutions is essential to preserving public trust and safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy. The rule of law must prevail over the rule of politics,” he emphasised.
Governor Makinde’s intervention comes amid heightened political tension in Osun State, where Governor Adeleke is seeking re-election under the Accord Party against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
The Oyo State Governor reaffirmed his commitment to the defence of democratic norms and the integrity of state institutions across Nigeria.